Yutu Rover Succeeds in Landing on Moon on Dec 14, 2013

The Yutu rover is separated from the Chang'e-3 probe on Dec 14, 2013. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]

Yutu rover succeeds in landing on Moon on Dec 14, 2013

The Yutu rover was separated from the Chang'e-3 probe on Dec 14, 2013, making China the third country after the United States and the Soviet Union to realize a soft landing on the Moon.

The mission was the first time a Chinese space vehicle had soft landed on, patrolled and inspected an extraterrestrial body.

Primarily developed by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, Chang'e-3 had the longest working hours on the Moon in the world. It also collected the clearest photo of the lunar surface in the past more than 40 years. Its collection of scientific information, photographs and other data is shared with the world for free.

(Executive editor: Zhang Tianyuan)