---
title: "China Crashed Spacecraft Into the Moon so It Wouldn’t Become Space Junk"
description: "The Chinese space agency instructed part of the Chang'e-5 spacecraft to crash back into the Moon after its job was done so it wouldn't become space junk."
date: "2020-12-09"
modified: "2020-12-09"
authors:
  - name: "Dan Robitzski"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/danrobitzski"
url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/china-crashed-spacecraft-moon-space-junk"
categories:
  - "Astronomy"
  - "Moon"
  - "Science & Energy"
  - "Space"
tags:
  - "chang'e 5"
  - "china"
  - "moon"
  - "orbital junk"
  - "space"
  - "the digest"
---

# China Crashed Spacecraft Into the Moon so It Wouldn’t Become Space Junk

![The Chinese space agency instructed part of the Chang'e-5 spacecraft to crash back into the Moon after its job was done so it wouldn't become space junk.](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/china-crashed-spacecraft-moon-space-junk.jpg>)
*\<em\>Image: DPA\</em\>*

## Left Behind

In a bid to avoid cluttering space with even more pieces of orbital debris, the Chinese space agency crashed part of its Chang'e-5 spacecraft into the Moon.

The Chang'e-5 mission is already on its way back to Earth after [scooping up samples of lunar rock](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/china-lands-moon-rocks>) and soil, but the [*South China Morning Post* reports that](<https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3113090/china-dodges-speeding-space-junk-bullet-after-change-5-moon>) some components were instructed to crash back into the Moon — because a lunar resting place is safer for future missions than leaving junk in orbit.

## Relay Race

The Chang'e-5 ascent vehicle, which delivered the lunar samples from the Moon to the orbiter waiting to take them home, won't get a return journey of its own. Instead, *[SpaceNews ](<https://spacenews.com/change-5-spacecraft-smashes-into-moon-after-completing-mission/>)*[reports](<https://spacenews.com/change-5-spacecraft-smashes-into-moon-after-completing-mission/>) that it was instructed to hurtle back toward the Moon on Monday while the orbiter headed back to Earth.

"This is an important pledge made by China as a responsible major country, towards the peaceful exploration and utilization of space by humans," the China National Space Administration told *SCMP*.

## Lunar Junkyard

Experts have been searching for ways to [clear garbage](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/space-company-turn-orbital-junk-space-stations>) out of orbit for years, and earlier this year there were [several](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/experts-predict-sizeable-chance-epic-space-junk-collision-tonight>) [high-profile near-misses](<https://futurism.com/space-debris-explosions-orbit>) in orbit.

Closer to Earth, satellites and space stations can be retired by bringing them back toward Earth, where [they disintegrate](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/watch-chinese-space-station-burn-atmosphere>) in the upper atmosphere or safely [splash into the ocean](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/deep-sea-graveyard-dead-spacecraft>). But all the way out near the Moon, that's less practical. Instead, China has decided that starting a graveyard on the Moon itself is the safer option.

**READ MORE:** [China dodges speeding space junk bullet after Chang’e 5 moon mission](<https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3113090/china-dodges-speeding-space-junk-bullet-after-change-5-moon>) \[*South China Morning Post*\]

**More on Chang'e-5:** *[Chinese Lander Sends Back Color Pictures of the Moon](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/chinese-lander-color-pictures-moon>)*

## Author
Dan Robitzki is a senior reporter for Futurism, where he likes to cover AI, tech ethics, and medicine. He spends his extra time fencing and streaming games from Los Angeles, California.

### Author social links  
[Twitter](<https://x.com/danrobitzski>)