A model of a lunar rover named 'Jade Rabbit'.
China on Sunday successfully sent an unmanned lunar probe with a robotic rover to soft land on the Moon and explore its surface, a major milestone for the Communist giant's maiden attempt to land on an extra-terrestrial celestial body.
The probe Chang'e-3 was launched into orbit aboard an enhanced 56.4 meter high Long March-3B carrier rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre.
Official broadcaster CCTV showed in live footage of the textbook launch. The probe successfully entered the required orbit, CCTV said.
The mission was the 25th launch of the Long March-3B, which is the most powerful launch vehicle in the Long March fleet. Chang'e-3 comprises a lander and a Moon rover called "Yutu" (Jade Rabbit). In Chinese folklore, a white rabbit was the pet of Moon goddess Chang'e.
The lunar probe will land on the Moon in mid-December if everything goes according to plan, official media reported. Tasks for Yutu include surveying the Moon's geological structure and surface substances, while looking for natural resources.
So far, only the US and the former Soviet Union have soft-landed on the Moon.
After entering lunar orbit, Chang'e-3 will go through six stages of deceleration to descend from 15km above to the lunar surface.
It is first time China is attempting soft landing on a celestial body and also the first time any lunar soft landing is being carried out since 1976, when other countries suspended exploration, said Li Benzheng, deputy commander in chief of the lunar exploration programme.
India's Chandrayaan-1, which was credited to have discovered water in the lunar surface made a hard landing on the Moon.
Using data collected by the Chandrayaan mission, NASA scientists have detected magmatic water locked under the surface of the Moon.
Coincidentally China's Chang'e-3 will be heading to the Moon while India's Mangalayan orbiter cruised to Mars after leaving Earth's orbit last night.
Earlier, Li congratulated India on its successful launch of a mission to Mars. He said China is not competing with any other country, but it is interested in peaceful advancements.