Lunar rover is 'awake' but faults continue
Updated: 2014-07-21 07:34
By Zhao Lei (China Daily)
|
||||||||
China's first lunar rover, Yutu, or Jade Rabbit, is still "alive" despite the malfunction of some of its equipment, according to a senior space scientist.
"Yutu has been woken up after the past dormancy, but the problems still exist," Wu Weiren, chief designer of China's lunar probe project, told Xinhua News Agency in Hong Kong.
Wu was to attend an exhibition set to open on Monday in Hong Kong that features the achievements China has made in its lunar exploration project.
He said the rover will embrace its eighth "working day", which is about 14 Earth days, in an abnormal state caused by mechanical failures, noting that "fortunately, the rover has completed its designated scientific and engineering tasks".
During the lunar night, there is no sunlight to provide power to Yutu's solar panel, and the extremely low temperatures would damage its delicate electronics, so the rover must "hibernate".
The 140-kilogram, six-wheeled Yutu, part of the Chang'e-3 lunar probe, has outlived its designed lifespan of three months since it reached the moon in mid-December. Using its scientific apparatus, the rover has analyzed major elements on the lunar surface and studied mineral resources.
However, after nearly six weeks of operation, the moon buggy reported a mechanical control problem on Jan 25 before entering its second dormancy.
Since then, it has been unable to move any farther, remaining about 20 meters southwest of where it landed. The antenna and solar panels cannot be folded, either.
Chinese engineers blamed the problem on the "complicated lunar surface environment".
Related news |
Zhang Yuhua, deputy head of Yutu's design team, said experts have concluded that the rover was probably damaged by large rocks when it was moving. She said the landing site's environment was even worse than scientists had expected.
It has become virtually impossible to resolve the mechanical failures, given that many parts on Yutu have approached the end of their designed lifespan, Zhang said.
The Chang'e-3 probe, which landed on the moon on Dec 14, is part of the second phase of China's current lunar program that includes orbiting, landing and returning to Earth. It follows the success of the Chang'e-1 mission in 2007 and Chang'e-2 mission in 2010.
Chinese scientists and engineers are now focusing on the third step of the program, namely landing on the moon and returning to Earth with samples extracted from the surface, Wu said.
The mission will be conducted by the Chang'e-5 probe around 2020, he said, adding that Chang'e-5 will be transported by the nation's first heavy-lift rocket, the Long March-5, in the new launch center at Wenchang on the island province of Hainan.
Development of the Long March-5 and the construction of the Wenchang launch center are faring well, according to Liu Jianzhong, deputy designer of the lunar program's rocket system.
Contact the writer at zhaolei@chinadaily.com.cn
- HK Children's Symphony Orchestra performs in NYC
- President Xi honored in Venezuela
- A bike ride helps Cuban editor fit into Chinese society
- Chinese students fall for Cuba
- Angel Model Contest
- Osmani Castillo — Cuban chef came to China for love
- Xi's visit takes China-Venezuela ties to a 'strategic' level
- Separatists take black boxes, bodies
Most Viewed
Editor's Picks
Xi attends BRICS summit |
China helps fight international war on drugs |
Crackdown on terrorist attacks |
My China Story: Meeting the master |
Tongues tied around tatu-bola |
A market that's not such a hot property |
Today's Top News
Xi visits old friend Fidel Castro at home
New scare hits fast food chains
Investigators examining MH17 victims
Beijing, Caracas sign multiple agreements
Syndrome killing young workers in 'world' s factory'
RMB developing quickly as major world currency
China, Cuba to further advance ties
Chinese get to know Cuba through salsa
US Weekly
Geared to go |
The place to be |