China's Moon Rover 'Jade Rabbit' Lands Safely on Moon | Chinese Space Program, December 14, 2013

China's Moon Rover 'Jade Rabbit' Lands Safely on Moon Chinese space program China's Moon Rover 'Jade Rabbit' Lands Safely China becomes only the third country to complete a rover landing - the first for 37 years - on the Moon. An unmanned spacecraft carrying China's first lunar rover called "Jade Rabbit' has safely landed on the surface of the Moon, according to state television.

It is the first "soft landing" of a probe there for 37 years and China is only the third country to complete such a feat after the US and former Soviet Union.

Beijing has now taken a big step towards becoming a global player in space.

Scientists burst into applause as a computer-generated image representing the Chang'e 3 spacecraft carrying the solar-powered buggy was seen touching down on the Moon's surface via screens in Beijing.

The craft's camera broadcast images of the surface before it reportedly came down in the Sinus Iridum, or the Bay of Rainbows.

It had hovered for several minutes seeking an appropriate place to land. Lunar rover on the Moon set to leave spacecraft Simulation of how the rover was expected to leave the spacecraft.

A soft landing does not damage the craft and the equipment it takes.