Chinese Probe Returns to Earth with First Samples from Dark Side of Moon

A Chinese lunar probe returned to Earth carrying the first-ever rock samples collected from the far side of the moon.

The moon does not rotate, so here on Earth we only see, and NASA astronauts have only landed on the 'near side"

The Chang'e 6 probe landed in northern China last week, carrying piece of volcanic rock more than 2.5 million years old.

Researchers will now compare the samples with those collected from the moon's 'near side'.

NASA will not have access to these moon rocks because a U.S. law bans NASA from using government funds to cooperate with China.