China on Monday delivered about 17 grams of lunar samples brought back by the Chang'e-5 probe to 13 institutions, which had applied for research programs to the Lunar Exploration and Space Program Center of the China National Space Administration.

the Lunar Exploration and Space Program Center had received 85 applications from 37 applicants working with 23 research institutions.

After evaluation, 31 applications from 13 research institutions have been granted approval to study the first batch of lunar samples.