China safely soft-lands rover on the moon

BEIJING: State media say China has safely carried out the world´s first soft landing of a space probe on the moon in nearly four decades.

State television showed pictures of the moon´s surface as the Chang´e 3 lander touched down Saturday evening.

The lander carries a moon rover called "Jade Rabbit" that will separate from the lander and embark on a three-month scientific exploration.

China is the third country to carry out a lunar soft landing after the United States and the former Soviet Union.

The last one was in 1976.China´s ambitious space program is an enormous source of pride for the country. China plans to eventually land people on the moon.