In late 2020, the Chinese Chang’e-5 lunar mission brought back 1.73 kg of lunar material, the first lunar sample return since the Soviet Luna 24 mission in 1976 and the largest return since Apollo 17 in 1972.
The Chinese National Space Administration announced in a statement on August 2 that researchers from outside China will be eligible to propose research involving the samples. Proposals will be reviewed every six months.
