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Monday, December 16, 2013

China lunar probe lands on Moon with rover

December 16, 2013
chang-3-moon
Moon rover photo taken by the camera on the Chang’e-3 moon lander during the mutual-photograph process (credit: Xinhua/Wang Jianmin)
China’s Chang’e-3 lunar probe landed on the Moon Saturday evening, China time, Xinhuanet reports. The country’s first moon rover, which was on board the probe, separated from the lander early on Sunday.
China expects to gain a scientific understanding of the moon and develop its space technologies through its lunar program, said Wu Zhijian, spokesman with the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense.
China’s lunar program has also brought technological progress in the development of carrier rockets, deep space communication, remote control, artificial intelligence, robotics, new materials and new energy, he added.
Wu said China has had “very good cooperation with other countries and international organizations in previous missions.”
Data collected through the Chang’e-1 and Chang’e-2 probes are open to scientists across the world, according to Wu.


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