China's Chang’e-6 spacecraft is on its way back to Earth with the first-ever samples collected from the far side of the Moon.

The Chang’e-6 service module likely fired its engines around June 21 for a trans-Earth injection. This marks the final leg of a complex 53-day mission involving a lunar landing, sampling, ascent, and docking. The reentry capsule, containing these unique samples, is expected to arrive on Earth early June 25.

Though the China National Space Administration (CNSA) hasn’t provided updates on maneuvers, optical and radio observations indicate Chang’e-6 is headed home. Astronomer Bill Gray, along with radio tracking by individuals and groups like Scott Tilley and AMSAT-DL, have been monitoring the spacecraft's journey.

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