News Astronomy

China’s lunar rock samples show lava flowed on the moon 2 billion years ago

The first lunar rocks returned to Earth in more than 40 years raise questions about the moon’s evolution

A capsule containing moon rocks next to a Chinese flag with vehicles in the background

A capsule containing moon rocks (shown) collected by China’s Chang’e-5 mission landed back on Earth in December 2020.

Chinese National Space Agency’s Lunar Exploration and Space Engineering Center

By Freda Kreier

- More than 2 years ago

Lava oozed across the moon’s surface just 2 billion years ago, bits of lunar rocks retrieved by China’s Chang’e-5 mission reveal.