>>Steven Lee Myers and Kenneth Chang, The New York Times
Published: 17 Dec 2020 11:02 AM BdST
Updated: 17 Dec 2020 11:02 AM BdST
Researchers work around Chang'e-5 lunar return capsule carrying moon samples next to a Chinese national flag, after it landed in northern China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, December 17, 2020. China Daily via REUTERS
China may have been a latecomer to the moon, but when its capsule full of lunar rocks and soil returned to Earth early Thursday, it set the stage for a new space race over the coming decades. This time, it will be a competition over resources on the moon that could propel deeper space exploration.