(VOVworld) – China landed its Chang'e 3 spacecraft on the moon on Saturday, joining the United States and the former Soviet Union in managing to accomplish such an exploit.

Chang'e 3 soft-land on the moon on Dec 15, 2013

Beijing’s Aerospace Flight Control Center said this achievement is an important step in China’s ambitious space programs. Some hours after Chang'e 3’s landing, the solar-powered Jade Rabbit buggy disconnected from the spacecraft on Sunday. Chang’e 3 and Jade Rabbit will begin their scientific tasks independently.
Chang’e 3 is the 2^nd phase in China’s exploration of the moon to continue activities of Chang’e 1 in 2007 and Chang’e 2 in 2010. Chinese scientists are studying to send humans to the Moon by 2020.