China’s Rover Leaves First Tracks On Moon In 40 Years

 
China’s first moon rover set off slowly Sunday to travel across the right eye of the Man in the Moon, leaving the first wheeled tracks on the moon’s surface in nearly 40 years.

Two weeks after its launch from southwest China, the Chang’e 3 lunar probe, named after a moon goddess, made a careful descent that was reported live on state television.

Only the USA and former Soviet Union have previously made soft landings on the moon, whereby the spacecraft and equipment remain intact and operable.

The next stage in this ambitious space program aims to eventually put a Chinese astronaut on the moon. The unmanned Chang’e 3 lander, touched down on Earth’s nearest neighbor following a 12-minute landing process.