China's Chang'e-3 lunar probe

  • A view of China's first moon rover, Yutu, or Jade Rabbit, is seen on the lunar surface with the Chinese national flag in this still image taken from video provided by China Central Television (CCTV) December 16, 2013. China landed an unmanned spacecraft on the moon on Saturday, state media reported, in the first such "soft-landing" since 1976, joining the United States and the former Soviet Union in managing to accomplish such a feat. The Chang'e 3, a probe named after a lunar goddess in traditional Chinese mythology, is carrying the solar-powered Yutu buggy, which will dig and conduct geological surveys. (REUTERS/CCTV via Reuters TV)
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    Still image taken from video shows China's first moon rover, Yutu, or Jade Rabbit, on the lunar surface

    A view of China's first moon rover, Yutu, or Jade Rabbit, is seen on the lunar surface with the Chinese national flag in this still image taken from video provided by China Central Television (CCTV) December 16, 2013. China landed an unmanned spacecraft on the moon on Saturday, state media reported, in the first such "soft-landing" since 1976, joining the United States and the former Soviet Union in managing to accomplish such a feat. The Chang'e 3, a probe named after a lunar goddess in traditional Chinese mythology, is carrying the solar-powered Yutu buggy, which will dig and conduct geological surveys. (REUTERS/CCTV via Reuters TV)
    REUTERS
  • A giant electronic screen displays the mission operation information of China's Chang'e-3 lunar probe as researchers work at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center, in Beijing, December 14, 2013. China landed an unmanned spacecraft on the moon on Saturday, state media reported, in the first such "soft-landing" since 1976, joining the United States and the former Soviet Union in managing to accomplish such a feat. The Chang'e 3, a probe named after a lunar goddess in traditional Chinese mythology, is carrying the solar-powered Yutu, or Jade Rabbit buggy, which will dig and conduct geological surveys. (REUTERS/Stringer)
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    A giant electronic screen displays the mission operation information of China's Chang'e-3 lunar probe as researchers work at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center, in Beijing

    A giant electronic screen displays the mission operation information of China's Chang'e-3 lunar probe as researchers work at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center, in Beijing, December 14, 2013. China landed an unmanned spacecraft on the moon on Saturday, state media reported, in the first such "soft-landing" since 1976, joining the United States and the former Soviet Union in managing to accomplish such a feat. The Chang'e 3, a probe named after a lunar goddess in traditional Chinese mythology, is carrying the solar-powered Yutu, or Jade Rabbit buggy, which will dig and conduct geological surveys. (REUTERS/Stringer)
    REUTERS
  • A photograph taken on a giant screen at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center in Beijing shows an animated image of the Chang'e-3 lunar probe landing onto the surface of the moon, December 14, 2013. China landed an unmanned spacecraft on the moon on Saturday, state media reported, in the first such "soft-landing" since 1976, joining the United States and the former Soviet Union in managing to accomplish such a feat. The Chang'e 3, a probe named after a lunar goddess in traditional Chinese mythology, is carrying the solar-powered Yutu, or Jade Rabbit buggy, which will dig and conduct geological surveys. (REUTERS/Stringer)
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    A photograph taken on a giant screen at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center in Beijing shows an animated image of the Chang'e-3 lunar probe landing onto the surface of the moon

    A photograph taken on a giant screen at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center in Beijing shows an animated image of the Chang'e-3 lunar probe landing onto the surface of the moon, December 14, 2013. China landed an unmanned spacecraft on the moon on Saturday, state media reported, in the first such "soft-landing" since 1976, joining the United States and the former Soviet Union in managing to accomplish such a feat. The Chang'e 3, a probe named after a lunar goddess in traditional Chinese mythology, is carrying the solar-powered Yutu, or Jade Rabbit buggy, which will dig and conduct geological surveys. (REUTERS/Stringer)
    REUTERS
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  • A photograph taken on a giant screen at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center in Beijing shows the footage taken by a camera on the bottom of Chang'e-3 lunar probe as it descends onto the surface of the moon, December 14, 2013. China landed an unmanned spacecraft on the moon on Saturday, state media reported, in the first such "soft-landing" since 1976, joining the United States and the former Soviet Union in managing to accomplish such a feat. The Chang'e 3, a probe named after a lunar goddess in traditional Chinese mythology, is carrying the solar-powered Yutu, or Jade Rabbit buggy, which will dig and conduct geological surveys. (REUTERS/Stringer)
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    Photograph taken on a giant screen at Beijing Aerospace Control Center shows footage taken by a camera on the bottom of Chang'e-3 lunar probe as it descends onto the surface of the moon

    A photograph taken on a giant screen at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center in Beijing shows the footage taken by a camera on the bottom of Chang'e-3 lunar probe as it descends onto the surface of the moon, December 14, 2013. China landed an unmanned spacecraft on the moon on Saturday, state media reported, in the first such "soft-landing" since 1976, joining the United States and the former Soviet Union in managing to accomplish such a feat. The Chang'e 3, a probe named after a lunar goddess in traditional Chinese mythology, is carrying the solar-powered Yutu, or Jade Rabbit buggy, which will dig and conduct geological surveys. (REUTERS/Stringer)
    REUTERS
  • Visitors take pictures of a prototype model of a lunar rover at the 15th China International Industry Fair in Shanghai, November 5, 2013. China will land its first probe on the moon in early December which will deploy a buggy to explore its surface, an official said on November 26, marking a major milestone in the country's space ambitions. Picture taken November 5, 2013. (REUTERS/Stringer)
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    Visitors take pictures of a prototype model of a lunar rover at the 15th China International Industry Fair in Shanghai

    Visitors take pictures of a prototype model of a lunar rover at the 15th China International Industry Fair in Shanghai, November 5, 2013. China will land its first probe on the moon in early December which will deploy a buggy to explore its surface, an official said on November 26, marking a major milestone in the country's space ambitions. Picture taken November 5, 2013. (REUTERS/Stringer)
    REUTERS
  • A boy looks at a golden scale model of China's lunar rover "Yutu", or Jade Rabbit, on display in a glass case in Nanjing, Jiangsu province December 14, 2013. China launched its first ever extraterrestrial landing craft into orbit en route for the moon in the small hours of December 2, in a major milestone for its space programme. The rover, carried by the Chang'e-3 lunar probe, is expected to land on the moon on Saturday evening, 12 days after it blasted off from the earth, Xinhua News Agency reported. (REUTERS/Stringer)
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    A boy looks at a golden scale model of China's lunar rover "Yutu", or Jade Rabbit, on display in a glass case in Nanjing

    A boy looks at a golden scale model of China's lunar rover "Yutu", or Jade Rabbit, on display in a glass case in Nanjing, Jiangsu province December 14, 2013. China launched its first ever extraterrestrial landing craft into orbit en route for the moon in the small hours of December 2, in a major milestone for its space programme. The rover, carried by the Chang'e-3 lunar probe, is expected to land on the moon on Saturday evening, 12 days after it blasted off from the earth, Xinhua News Agency reported. (REUTERS/Stringer)
    REUTERS
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  • The Long March 3B rocket carrying the Chang'e-3 lunar probe is seen docked at the launch pad at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Liangshan, Sichuan province December 1, 2013. China will launch Chang'e-3 lunar probe at 1:30 a.m. on Monday which will deploy a buggy to explore its surface, marking a major milestone in the country's space ambitions. Chang'e-3 comprises a lander and a moon rover called "Yu Tu" (Jade Rabbit). The lunar probe is expected to land on the moon in mid-December if everything goes according to plan. (REUTERS/Stringer)
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    The Long March 3B rocket carrying the Chang'e-3 lunar probe is seen docked at the launch pad at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Liangshan

    The Long March 3B rocket carrying the Chang'e-3 lunar probe is seen docked at the launch pad at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Liangshan, Sichuan province December 1, 2013. China will launch Chang'e-3 lunar probe at 1:30 a.m. on Monday which will deploy a buggy to explore its surface, marking a major milestone in the country's space ambitions. Chang'e-3 comprises a lander and a moon rover called "Yu Tu" (Jade Rabbit). The lunar probe is expected to land on the moon in mid-December if everything goes according to plan. (REUTERS/Stringer)
    REUTERS
  • The launch pad of the Long March 3B rocket carrying the Chang'e-3 lunar probe is seen at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Liangshan, Sichuan province November 30, 2013. China will launch Chang'e-3 lunar probe at 1:30 a.m. on Monday which will deploy a buggy to explore its surface, marking a major milestone in the country's space ambitions. Chang'e-3 comprises a lander and a moon rover called "Yu Tu" (Jade Rabbit). The lunar probe is expected to land on the moon in mid-December if everything goes according to plan. Picture taken November 30, 2013. (REUTERS/Stringer)
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    The launch pad of the Long March 3B rocket carrying the Chang'e-3 lunar probe is seen in Liangshan

    The launch pad of the Long March 3B rocket carrying the Chang'e-3 lunar probe is seen at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Liangshan, Sichuan province November 30, 2013. China will launch Chang'e-3 lunar probe at 1:30 a.m. on Monday which will deploy a buggy to explore its surface, marking a major milestone in the country's space ambitions. Chang'e-3 comprises a lander and a moon rover called "Yu Tu" (Jade Rabbit). The lunar probe is expected to land on the moon in mid-December if everything goes according to plan. Picture taken November 30, 2013. (REUTERS/Stringer)
    REUTERS
A view of China's first moon rover, Yutu, or Jade Rabbit, is seen on the lunar surface with the Chinese national flag in this still image taken from video provided by China Central Television (CCTV) December 16, 2013. China landed an unmanned spacecraft on the moon on Saturday, state media reported, in the first such "soft-landing" since 1976, joining the United States and the former Soviet Union in managing to accomplish such a feat. The Chang'e 3, a probe named after a lunar goddess in traditional Chinese mythology, is carrying the solar-powered Yutu buggy, which will dig and conduct geological surveys. (REUTERS/CCTV via Reuters TV)
A giant electronic screen displays the mission operation information of China's Chang'e-3 lunar probe as researchers work at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center, in Beijing, December 14, 2013. China landed an unmanned spacecraft on the moon on Saturday, state media reported, in the first such "soft-landing" since 1976, joining the United States and the former Soviet Union in managing to accomplish such a feat. The Chang'e 3, a probe named after a lunar goddess in traditional Chinese mythology, is carrying the solar-powered Yutu, or Jade Rabbit buggy, which will dig and conduct geological surveys. (REUTERS/Stringer)
A photograph taken on a giant screen at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center in Beijing shows an animated image of the Chang'e-3 lunar probe landing onto the surface of the moon, December 14, 2013. China landed an unmanned spacecraft on the moon on Saturday, state media reported, in the first such "soft-landing" since 1976, joining the United States and the former Soviet Union in managing to accomplish such a feat. The Chang'e 3, a probe named after a lunar goddess in traditional Chinese mythology, is carrying the solar-powered Yutu, or Jade Rabbit buggy, which will dig and conduct geological surveys. (REUTERS/Stringer)
A photograph taken on a giant screen at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center in Beijing shows the footage taken by a camera on the bottom of Chang'e-3 lunar probe as it descends onto the surface of the moon, December 14, 2013. China landed an unmanned spacecraft on the moon on Saturday, state media reported, in the first such "soft-landing" since 1976, joining the United States and the former Soviet Union in managing to accomplish such a feat. The Chang'e 3, a probe named after a lunar goddess in traditional Chinese mythology, is carrying the solar-powered Yutu, or Jade Rabbit buggy, which will dig and conduct geological surveys. (REUTERS/Stringer)
Visitors take pictures of a prototype model of a lunar rover at the 15th China International Industry Fair in Shanghai, November 5, 2013. China will land its first probe on the moon in early December which will deploy a buggy to explore its surface, an official said on November 26, marking a major milestone in the country's space ambitions. Picture taken November 5, 2013. (REUTERS/Stringer)
A boy looks at a golden scale model of China's lunar rover "Yutu", or Jade Rabbit, on display in a glass case in Nanjing, Jiangsu province December 14, 2013. China launched its first ever extraterrestrial landing craft into orbit en route for the moon in the small hours of December 2, in a major milestone for its space programme. The rover, carried by the Chang'e-3 lunar probe, is expected to land on the moon on Saturday evening, 12 days after it blasted off from the earth, Xinhua News Agency reported. (REUTERS/Stringer)
The Long March 3B rocket carrying the Chang'e-3 lunar probe is seen docked at the launch pad at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Liangshan, Sichuan province December 1, 2013. China will launch Chang'e-3 lunar probe at 1:30 a.m. on Monday which will deploy a buggy to explore its surface, marking a major milestone in the country's space ambitions. Chang'e-3 comprises a lander and a moon rover called "Yu Tu" (Jade Rabbit). The lunar probe is expected to land on the moon in mid-December if everything goes according to plan. (REUTERS/Stringer)
The launch pad of the Long March 3B rocket carrying the Chang'e-3 lunar probe is seen at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Liangshan, Sichuan province November 30, 2013. China will launch Chang'e-3 lunar probe at 1:30 a.m. on Monday which will deploy a buggy to explore its surface, marking a major milestone in the country's space ambitions. Chang'e-3 comprises a lander and a moon rover called "Yu Tu" (Jade Rabbit). The lunar probe is expected to land on the moon in mid-December if everything goes according to plan. Picture taken November 30, 2013. (REUTERS/Stringer)

China said Monday it was on track to launch a fifth lunar probe with the aim of bringing back lunar soil and rock samples following the successful moon landing of a space probe.

The new mission planned for 2017 would mark the third and final phase of China's robotic lunar exploration program and pave the way for possibly landing an astronaut on the moon after 2020. (


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