China launched the Chang'e-3 lunar probe with the country's first moon rover aboard early on Monday, marking a significant step toward deep space exploration.

本周一凌晨，中国发射了嫦娥三号卫星。嫦娥三号由着陆器和中国月球车组成，将一期工程的“表面探测”引申至了对月球的内部探测。

The probe's carrier, an enhanced Long March-3B rocket, blasted off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China at 1:30 a.m.

作为进一步技术研发的成果，长征三号乙运载火箭于凌晨1点30分从位于中国西南部的西昌卫星发射中心发射。

Chang'e-3 is expected to land on the moon in mid-December to become China's first spacecraft to soft land on the surface of an extraterrestrial body.

嫦娥三号预计将于12月中旬着陆，成为中国实现外星球软着陆的宇宙飞行器。

It is also the first moon lander launched in the 21st century.

这也是21世纪以来人类的登月之旅。

The probe entered the earth-moon transfer orbit as scheduled, with a perigee of 200 kilometers and apogee of 380,000 kilometers.

嫦娥三号已经按照计划进入了近地点高度200公里、远地点高度约38万公里的地月转移轨道。

"The probe has already entered the designated orbit," said Zhang Zhenzhong, director of the launch center in Xichang. "I now announce the launch was successful."

西昌卫星发射中心主任张振中宣布：“嫦娥三号已经进入指定轨道，发射任务圆满成功。”