China's lunar probe returns to Earth with first-ever samples from the far side of the Moon

The first soil samples ever taken from the far side of the Moon arrived on Earth today. China's Chang'e 6 spacecraft landed with the precious cargo in Inner Mongolia today at 2:07PM Beijing time, according to state media. The feat is expected to help scientists better understand the unfamiliar terrain of the Moon's far side and perhaps shed some light on the early history of the Moon and Earth. It's also a significant milestone in the escalating global space race to establish a presence on the Moon. A significant milestone in the escalating global space race President Xi Jinping congratulated…