Asia-Pacific

China’s moon rover runs into problems

The Yutu vehicle is experiencing mechanical problems and may not be able to finish its mission

A boy looks at a golden scale model of China’s lunar rover ‘Yutu’, or Jade Rabbit, on display in a glass case in Nanjing, Jiangsu province. Photograph: Reuters
A boy looks at a golden scale model of China’s lunar rover ‘Yutu’, or Jade Rabbit, on display in a glass case in Nanjing, Jiangsu province. Photograph: Reuters
Mon Jan 27 2014 - 09:25

China has said its first lunar rover is experiencing mechanical problems and may not be able to finish its mission.

The Yutu vehicle began operating last month after making the first soft landing on the Moon by a space probe in 37 years. It was designed to roam the lunar surface for three months while surveying natural resources.

The mission has been a major success for China’s space programme and the rover has attracted more than 150,000 followers on its microblog.

The mechanical problems appeared to be related to the solar-powered probe’s shutdown for the lunar night, which lasts more than two weeks. The temperature during that time drops to minus 180C (minus 292F).

READ MORE

Yutu, or “Jade Rabbit,” is named after a mythological creature.

Agencies