Long March Gallery

A Chinese Long March 3B rocket launches China's first moon rover Yutu (Jade Rabbit) on the Chang'e 3 lunar landing mission from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center on Dec. 2, 2013 local time (Dec. 1 EST) in this still image from a CCTV broadcast.

A Chinese Long March 3B rocket launches China's first moon rover Yutu (Jade Rabbit) on the Chang'e 3 lunar landing mission from the Xichang Satellite Launch.

Still image from a CCTV broadcast shows the view down from a Long March 3B rocket carrying China's Chang'e 3 moon lander and Yutu rover toward the moon . Two of the rocket's strap-on boosters are visible.

China's Chang'e 3 spacecraft carrying the country's Yutu (Jade Rabbit) moon rover separates from its Long March 3B rocket in this still image from a CCTV broadcast after the successful launch from Xichang Satellite Launch.

A Chinese Long March 3B rocket streaks toward space carrying China's first moon rover Yutu (Jade Rabbit) on the Chang'e 3 lunar landing mission

China's Yutu moon rover, part of the Chang'e 3 lunar landing mission launched in December 2013.

A Chinese Long March 3B rocket streaks toward space carrying China's first moon rover Yutu (Jade Rabbit) on the Chang'e 3 lunar landing mission

The Chang'e 3 lunar lander and moon rover is part of the second phase of China's three-step robotic lunar exploration program.