The Long March-5 rocket lifted off at 5.27pm on May 3, from the Wenchang Space Launch Center on the southern island province of Hainan with the more than eight-tonne probe.


Chang'e-6 is named after the Chinese mythical moon Goddess and its launch marks another milestone in China's lunar and space exploration programme.

The South Pole-Aitken Basin, where Chang’e-6 is set to land, is on the dark side of the moon that remains mysterious as it perpetually faces away from Earth.