China ups its space credentials with its very
own moon landing. The Chang'e-3 spacecraft
successfully touching down on the lunar surface.
Only the third nation, after the US and the
Soviet Union, to achieve such a feat. A historic
moment, with this, the first soft landing
in almost 40 years. Touching down in the Sinus
Iridum or Bay of Rainbows. The area selected
as it has yet to be explored, has plenty of
sunlight, and is good for communicating with
Earth. Scientists at the Beijing Aerospace
Control Centre understandably delighted. The
animation mirroring what's happening on the
Moon's surface. And now that they've arrived...time
to unpack the lunar rover. A gap of seven
hours from touch-down before Jade Rabbit slowly
reaches the surface. A more muted response
by officials in Beijing. The buggy remotely
controlled by scientists in China, helped
by a network of tracking and transmission
stations around the world. Jade Rabbit will
dig and conduct geological surveys as part
of its scientific remit. But first a photo
call as the probe and buggy take pictures
of each other. This mission, a statement of
intent by China, which has high ambitions.
The country ultimately planning to send man
back to the Moon in the 2020s.
