China's moon rover Yutu, or Jade Rabbit, completed its first scientific exploration of lunar soil on January 14, according to the Beijing Aerospace Control Center (BACC).

The rover used its mechanical arm to carry out the survey, following instructions from the control center, according to a BACC statement.

"Accurate direction of the mechanical arm from a distance of 380,000 km has been realized, a breakthrough for China in achieving long-distance remote control," said Wu Fenglei of the BACC.

China's Chang'e-3 lunar probe, which launched from Earth with Yutu onboard, soft-landed on the moon at Sinus Iridium, or the Bay of Rainbows, on December 14 last year. After landing, the rover separated from the Chang'e-3 lander.

The rover and lander entered a period of dormancy that lasted two weeks, the same as one lunar night, on December 26, 2013, in a move designed to ride out the moon's harsh climactic conditions. They awakened autonomously on January 12.