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The CNSA (China) Chang'e-6 return vehicle landed in China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on June 25 at 06:07 UT (2:07 a.m. EDT, 2:07 p.m. Beijing time). The capsule brought back over 1.9 kg of the first samples ever collected from the Moon's far side. On May 29, JAXA, the Japanese Space Agency, announced that contact had been lost with the Venus orbiter, Akatsuki. The spacecraft has been operating in orbit around Venus since 2015. Ground controllers are trying to reestablish contact.This Day in Planetary and Lunar Exploration History
- 1908
- Large explosion occurs near Tunguska in Siberia, presumably due to small asteroid or comet.
- 2004
- The Cassini spacecraft passes through Saturn's rings and begins its orbit insertion burn.
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- NASA Official: Dr. David R. Williams
- Curator: Dr. David R. Williams
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- Last updated: 30 November 2018