The CNSA has already distributed samples to over 100 research teams in China, leading to significant scientific breakthroughs, including the discovery of a new lunar mineral.

China's Chang'e-5 mission made history by becoming the third country to collect lunar rocks, following the Soviet Union and the United States, which last retrieved samples in 1972.

These samples are believed to be about a billion years younger than those collected during the Apollo missions, suggesting more recent volcanic activity on the Moon than previously thought.

The Chang'e-5 mission successfully returned to Earth on December 17, 2020, bringing back 1,731 grams of lunar material, marking the first lunar sample return in 44 years.

In November 2023, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) began accepting international applications for the lunar samples and received requests for 71 sample sets by the end of that year.

The CNSA received applications from 11 countries for the moon rock samples, highlighting a strong international interest in lunar research.

After reviewing 24 applications, seven institutions from the U.S., France, Germany, Japan, Pakistan, and the United Kingdom were selected to receive samples.

Among the selected institutions, Brown University and Stony Brook University in New York will receive the moon rocks after obtaining special permission from Congress.

NASA is currently in discussions with the CNSA regarding the loan agreement for the Chang'e-5 samples, ensuring that national security requirements are met.

This collaboration occurs despite a 2011 U.S. law that restricts NASA's partnerships with China due to national security concerns, requiring security certifications for any cooperative efforts.

The global eagerness for lunar samples is further emphasized by interest in future samples from the Chang'e-6 mission, which collected rocks from the moon's far side.

Experts emphasize that the examination of these lunar samples is a scientific endeavor, free from political motivations, and crucial for advancing our understanding of the Moon.