![Andy Wong Bian Zhigang, Deputy Director of the China National Space Administration walks by Chang'e 6 probe models as he arrives for a press conference at the State Council Information Office in Beijing, Thursday, June 27, 2024. China's space officials said Thursday they welcomed scientists from across the world to apply to study the lunar rock samples the Chang'e 6 probe brought back to earth in a historic mission, but noted there were limits to that cooperation, specifically with the U.S. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/1728c456d80d44219f50305cf4961d47/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x&wm=false)
Bian Zhigang, Deputy Director of the China National Space Administration walks by Chang'e 6 probe models as he arrives for a press conference at the State Council Information Office in Beijing, Thursday, June 27, 2024. China's space officials said Thursday they welcomed scientists from across the world to apply to study the lunar rock samples the Chang'e 6 probe brought back to earth in a historic mission, but noted there were limits to that cooperation, specifically with the U.S. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
![Andy Wong Bian Zhigang, Deputy Director of the China National Space Administration speaks during a press conference at the State Council Information Office in Beijing, Thursday, June 27, 2024. China's space officials said Thursday they welcomed scientists from across the world to apply to study the lunar rock samples the Chang'e 6 probe brought back to earth in a historic mission, but noted there were limits to that cooperation, specifically with the U.S. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/e68c29895ee243e382884b2e304518bf/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x&wm=false)
Bian Zhigang, Deputy Director of the China National Space Administration speaks during a press conference at the State Council Information Office in Beijing, Thursday, June 27, 2024. China's space officials said Thursday they welcomed scientists from across the world to apply to study the lunar rock samples the Chang'e 6 probe brought back to earth in a historic mission, but noted there were limits to that cooperation, specifically with the U.S. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
![Andy Wong A staff member holding a smartphone showing the State Council Information Office website broadcasting a live of Hu Hao, chief designer of China's Chang'e 6 probe speaking during a press conference at the State Council Information Office in Beijing, Thursday, June 27, 2024. China's space officials said Thursday they welcomed scientists from across the world to apply to study the lunar rock samples the Chang'e 6 probe brought back to earth in a historic mission, but noted there were limits to that cooperation, specifically with the U.S. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/fe71f3ab721c471485e696c5d87152fc/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x&wm=false)
A staff member holding a smartphone showing the State Council Information Office website broadcasting a live of Hu Hao, chief designer of China's Chang'e 6 probe speaking during a press conference at the State Council Information Office in Beijing, Thursday, June 27, 2024. China's space officials said Thursday they welcomed scientists from across the world to apply to study the lunar rock samples the Chang'e 6 probe brought back to earth in a historic mission, but noted there were limits to that cooperation, specifically with the U.S. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
![Andy Wong A reporter takes a smartphone photo of Chang'e 6 probe models on display at the State Council Information Office, in Beijing, Thursday, June 27, 2024. China's space officials said Thursday they welcomed scientists from across the world to apply to study the lunar rock samples the Chang'e 6 probe brought back to earth in a historic mission, but noted there were limits to that cooperation, specifically with the U.S. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/ce093d3e83f4415da48943c8832b92da/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x&wm=false)
A reporter takes a smartphone photo of Chang'e 6 probe models on display at the State Council Information Office, in Beijing, Thursday, June 27, 2024. China's space officials said Thursday they welcomed scientists from across the world to apply to study the lunar rock samples the Chang'e 6 probe brought back to earth in a historic mission, but noted there were limits to that cooperation, specifically with the U.S. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
![Andy Wong Hu Hao, chief designer of China's Chang'e 6 probe, right, speaks next to Bian Zhigang, Deputy Director of the China National Space Administration during a press conference at the State Council Information Office in Beijing, Thursday, June 27, 2024. China's space officials said Thursday they welcomed scientists from across the world to apply to study the lunar rock samples the Chang'e 6 probe brought back to earth in a historic mission, but noted there were limits to that cooperation, specifically with the U.S. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/14c044a6958644e8b65ed2f022eb833f/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x&wm=false)
Hu Hao, chief designer of China's Chang'e 6 probe, right, speaks next to Bian Zhigang, Deputy Director of the China National Space Administration during a press conference at the State Council Information Office in Beijing, Thursday, June 27, 2024. China's space officials said Thursday they welcomed scientists from across the world to apply to study the lunar rock samples the Chang'e 6 probe brought back to earth in a historic mission, but noted there were limits to that cooperation, specifically with the U.S. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
![Andy Wong Bian Zhigang, Deputy Director of the China National Space Administration listens to a question from a foreign journalist during a press conference at the State Council Information Office in Beijing, Thursday, June 27, 2024. China's space officials said Thursday they welcomed scientists from across the world to apply to study the lunar rock samples the Chang'e 6 probe brought back to earth in a historic mission, but noted there were limits to that cooperation, specifically with the U.S. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/0b4c744bc5d74dc0b8f43928e53c0b76/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x&wm=false)
Bian Zhigang, Deputy Director of the China National Space Administration listens to a question from a foreign journalist during a press conference at the State Council Information Office in Beijing, Thursday, June 27, 2024. China's space officials said Thursday they welcomed scientists from across the world to apply to study the lunar rock samples the Chang'e 6 probe brought back to earth in a historic mission, but noted there were limits to that cooperation, specifically with the U.S. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
![Bei He In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, the return capsule of the Chang'e 6 probe is seen in Siziwang Banner, northern China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Tuesday, June 25, 2024. China's Chang'e 6 probe has returned on Earth with rock and soil samples from the little-explored far side of the moon in a global first. (Bei He/Xinhua via AP)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/b7b59298a82a463dbe98b3f080ddc429/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x&wm=false)
In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, the return capsule of the Chang'e 6 probe is seen in Siziwang Banner, northern China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Tuesday, June 25, 2024. China's Chang'e 6 probe has returned on Earth with rock and soil samples from the little-explored far side of the moon in a global first. (Bei He/Xinhua via AP)
![Andy Wong Bian Zhigang, Deputy Director of the China National Space Administration speaks during a press conference at the State Council Information Office in Beijing, Thursday, June 27, 2024. China's space officials said Thursday they welcomed scientists from across the world to apply to study the lunar rock samples the Chang'e 6 probe brought back to earth in a historic mission, but noted there were limits to that cooperation, specifically with the U.S. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/31210476b88d42a6a24d6432f89d7642/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x&wm=false)
Bian Zhigang, Deputy Director of the China National Space Administration speaks during a press conference at the State Council Information Office in Beijing, Thursday, June 27, 2024. China's space officials said Thursday they welcomed scientists from across the world to apply to study the lunar rock samples the Chang'e 6 probe brought back to earth in a historic mission, but noted there were limits to that cooperation, specifically with the U.S. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)