The chart shows a launch procedure of China's third unmanned lunar probe, Chang'e-3, which blasted off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center (XSLC) in southwest China's Sichuan Province on Dec. 2, 2013. (Xinhua/Zheng Yue)

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China announces launch of Chang'e-3 lunar probe "successful"

XICHANG, Sichuan, Dec. 2 (Xinhua) -- The launch of China's lunar probe Chang'e-3 was "successful," the Xichang Satellite Launch Center announced Monday.

Zhang Zhenzhong, director of the center, made the announcement after the lunar probe entered the earth-moon transfer orbit and unfolded its solar panels. Full story

China's lunar probe enters earth-moon transfer orbit

XICHANG, Sichuan, Dec. 2 (Xinhua) -- China's lunar probe Chang'e-3 has entered the earth-moon transfer orbit after it separated from the carrier rocket, space authorities announced Monday.

Chang'e-3 arrived at the orbit with a perigee of 200 kilometers and an apogee of 380,000 kilometers as scheduled. Full story

China launches probe and rover to moon

XICHANG, Sichuan, Dec. 2 (Xinhua) -- China launched the Chang'e-3 lunar probe with its first moon rover aboard early on Monday.

The lunar probe, aboard a Long March-3B carrier rocket, blasted off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China at 1:30 a.m. Monday.  Full story

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Backgrounder: China's "triple jump" progress in lunar probes

Backgrounder: Timeline of China's lunar program