China's space program
A Long March-3B carrier rocket carrying China's Chang'e-3 lunar probe takes off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Xichang, China, Dec. 2, 2013.
China successfully sent the Chang'e-3 lunar probe with its first moon rover aboard into orbit on Monday morning.
Xichang, China
The Long March 3B rocket carrying the Chang'e-3 lunar probe blasts off from the launch pad at Xichang Satellite Launch Center, in southwest China's Sichuan Province, Dec. 2, 2013.
China has launched its first mission to land a rover on the moon that will transmit images and survey the moon’s surface. The spacecraft is expected to land in mid-December.
Xichang, China
A Long March-3B carrier rocket carrying China's Chang'e-3 lunar probe takes off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, Dec. 2, 2013.Xichang, China
The Chang'e-3 rocket carrying the Jade Rabbit rover blasts off, from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in the southwest province of Sichuan, Dec. 2, 2013.Xichang Satellite Launch Center
The Long March 3B rocket carrying the Chang'e-3 lunar probe is seen docked at the launch pad at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Liangshan, Sichuan province, Dec. 1, 2013.Inner Mongolia
Chinese astronaut Nie Haisheng waves before getting out of the re-entry capsule of China's Shenzhou-10 spacecraft after it landed at its main landing site in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, June 26, 2013.Inner Mongolia
A policeman stands guard next to a component of the Shenzhou-10 manned spacecraft which was found in Badain Jaran Desert after the launch, in Alxa League, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, June 12, 2013.
The Chinese manned spacecraft blasted off with three astronauts on board on Tuesday on a 15-day mission to an experimental space lab in the latest step towards the development of a space station.
Inner Mongolia
Astronauts (L-R) Zhang Xiaoguang, Nie Haisheng and Wang Yaping salute after returning to earth in the re-entry capsule of China's Shenzhou-10 spacecraft at its main landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, June 26, 2013.Jiuquan, Gansu province
China's Shenzhou 10 spacecraft and its carrier Long March 2-F rocket transferred to the launch site at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Jiuquan, Gansu province June 3, 2013.Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center
Chinese astronauts of the Shenzhou-10 manned spacecraft mission (from L-R) Wang Yaping, Nie Haisheng and Zhang Xiaoguang sit in front of a Chinese national flag as they meet the media at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Jiuquan, Gansu province, June 10, 2013.Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center
Chinese astronauts (from L to R) Wang Yaping, Zhang Xiaoguang and Nie Haisheng wave before leaving for the Shenzhou-10 manned spacecraft mission at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Jiuquan, Gansu province June 11, 2013.Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center
The Long March 2-F rocket loaded with Shenzhou-10 manned spacecraft carrying Chinese astronauts Nie Haisheng, Zhang Xiaoguang and Wang Yaping lifts off into the sky from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, June 11, 2013.Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center
The Long March 2-F rocket loaded with Shenzhou-10 manned spacecraft carrying Chinese astronauts Nie Haisheng, Zhang Xiaoguang and Wang Yaping lifts off from the launch pad in the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, Gansu province June 11, 2013.Inner Mongolia
Police officers stand guard as employees assist Chinese astronauts out from the re-entry capsule of China's Shenzhou 9 spacecraft in Siziwang Banner, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, June 29, 2012.
China's Shenzhou 9 spacecraft returned to Earth, ending a mission that put the country's first woman in space and completed a manned docking test critical to its goal of building a space station by 2020.
Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center
Liu Yang, China's first female astronaut, waves during a departure ceremony at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, Gansu province, June 16, 2012.
Liu, a 33-year-old fighter pilot, joined two other astronauts aboard the Shenzhou 9 spacecraft.
Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center
A woman connects a model of the Shenzhou 9 manned spacecraft (R) with a model of the orbiting Tiangong 1 module (L) for sale at a shop in Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, Gansu province, June 17, 2012.Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center
Chinese astronauts Jing Haipeng (C), Liu Wang (R) and Liu Yang, China's first female astronaut, wave to the media during a news conference at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, in northwest China's Gansu province, June 15, 2012.Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center
The Shenzhou-9 manned spacecraft, Long March-2F rocket, and escape tower wait to be transferred to the launch pad at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, Gansu province, June 9, 2012.Shanghai
A China-made lunar rover makes its debut during an exchange on space technology between China and the United Kingdom in Shanghai, March 31, 2007.
The host and participating experts showed the key technologies of the remote-controlled moon machine, which can climb slopes and overcome barriers, China Daily reported.
Sichuan province
The Long March 3A rocket and a lunar orbiter, the Chang'e One, which are under wraps, sits on the launch pad at the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre, in southwest China's Sichuan province, Oct. 20, 2007.
China launched its first lunar orbiter at the end of October as it counts down to putting a man on the moon within 15 years, state media said.
Beijing
Chinese astronaut Fei Junlong listens to questions during a media tour of the China Astronaut Centre of Beijing Aerospace City April 29, 2011.Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center
A soldier rides a bicycle in front of the Long March II-F rocket loaded with China's unmanned space module Tiangong-1 before its planned launch from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, Gansu province, Sept. 29, 2011.Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center
A modified model of the Long March CZ-2F rocket carrying the unmanned spacecraft Shenzhou 8 blasts off from the launch pad at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China's Gansu Province, Nov. 1, 2011.
China launched the unmanned Shenzhou 8 spacecraft early on Tuesday, paving the way for a docking exercise with another craft. The docking, if successful, will pave the way for China to operate a permanent space station around 2020, and make the nation the world's third to do so.
Hong Kong
Astronauts wave to the crowd during a variety show to welcome the astronauts of the Shenzhou-7 space mission in Hong Kong, Dec. 7, 2008.Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center
China's Vice Premier Zhang Dejiang (R) delivers a speech after the launch of China's unmanned spacecraft Shenzhou 8 at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Gansu Province, Nov. 1, 2011.Beijing
Chinese astronauts Fei Junlong (L) and Nie Haisheng wave to the cheering crowd at the Beijing Spacecraft Center in Beijing, Oct. 17, 2005.
China's second manned spacecraft returned after orbiting the Earth for five days as patriotic fervour gripped the nation and the media hailed the mission as a symbol of China's technological prowess.
Inner Mongolia
Chinese technicians check the reentry capsule at the Siziwang Banner, in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Oct. 17, 2005.
Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center
The Shenzhou-7 manned spaceship, the Long-March II-F rocket and the escape tower are transferred to the launch pad at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, in Gansu province Sept. 20, 2008.Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center
The Shenzhou-7 manned spaceship is seen at the assembly workshop at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, Gansu province, Sept. 4, 2008.Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center
Chinese astronauts Jing Haipeng (L), Zhai Zhigang (C) and Liu Boming salute before taking part in a drill for the launch of the Shenzhou-7 manned spacecraft at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, Gansu province, Sept. 3, 2008.Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center
The Long-March II-F rocket carrying the Shenzhou VII manned spacecraft blasts off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, Sept. 25, 2008.
China's third manned space mission blasted off from a remote desert site on Thursday on a trip expected to include the technologically ambitious nation's first space walk.
Shenzhou VII space craft
Astronaut Zhai Zhigang of China waves as he exits the Shenzhou VII space craft in this September 27, 2008 video grab.
Zhai became the first Chinese man to walk in space, clambering out of the space craft in a technological feat that Beijing wants the world to marvel about.
Shenzhou VII space craft
Astronaut Zhai Zhigang of China holds the national flag after exiting the Shenzhou VII space craft in this Sept. 27, 2008 video grab.Beijing
Chinese astronauts (from L to R) Zhang Xiaoguang, Nie Haisheng and Wang Yaping salute in a re-entry capsule during a training at Beijing Aerospace City in Beijing, April 29, 2013.