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Yutu (rover)
&sq=&lang=&file=File:Yutu_rover.jpg) Yutu rover on lunar surface | |
| Mission type | Lunar rover |
|---|---|
| Operator | CNSA osrg |
| COSPAR ID | 2013-070C |
| Mission duration | 3 months (planned)[1] Actual: 973 days Immobile since 25 January 2014, 42 days after landing. |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Manufacturer | SASEI and BISSE |
| Landing mass | 140 kg (310 lb)[2] |
| Dimensions | 1.5 m (4.9 ft) |
| Power | • Solar panels for electricity • Radioisotope heater units for heating |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 1 December 2013, 17:30 UTC[3] |
| Rocket | Long March 3B Y-23 |
| Launch site | Xichang LC-2 |
| Deployed from | Chang'e 3 |
| End of mission | |
| Declared | 3 August 2016 |
| Last contact | Mid-2016 |
| Lunar rover | |
| Landing date | 14 December 2013, 13:12 UTC[4] |
| Landing site | Mare Imbrium 44°07′N 19°31′W / 44.12°N 19.51°W[5] |
| Distance driven | 114.8 m (377 ft)[6] |
Yutu (Chinese: 玉兔; pinyin: Yùtù; lit. 'Jade Rabbit') was a robotic lunar rover that formed part of the Chinese Chang'e 3 mission to the Moon. It was launched at 17:30 UTC on 1 December 2013, and reached the Moon's surface on 14 December 2013.[7] The mission marks the first soft landing on the Moon since 1976 and the first rover to operate there since the Soviet Lunokhod 2 ceased operations on 11 May 1973.[8]
The rover encountered operational difficulties toward the end of the second lunar day[9] after surviving and recovering successfully from the first 14-day lunar night.[10] It was unable to move after the end of the second lunar night, though it continued to gather useful information for some months afterward.[11] In October 2015, Yutu set the record for the longest operational period for a rover on the Moon.[12] On 31 July 2016, Yutu ceased to operate after a total of 31 months, well beyond its original expected lifespan of three months.
In total, while working on the Moon, the rover was able to travel a distance of 114 meters.[13]
In 2018 the follow-on to the Yutu rover, the Yutu-2 rover, launched as part of the Chang'e 4 mission.
- ^ Laxman, Srinivas (7 March 2012). "Chang'e-3: China To Launch First Moon Rover In 2013". Asian Scientist.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Science toolswas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Zhang (13 March 2012). "China Starts Manufacturing Third Lunar Probe". CRI. Archived from the original on 21 October 2013.
- ^ Knapp, Alex (30 November 2013). "China Will Kick Off December By Launching A Probe To The Moon". Forbes. Archived from the original on 14 December 2013.
- ^ "Chang'e-3 soft-lands on moon". xinhuanet. 14 December 2013. Archived from the original on 17 December 2013.
- ^ "China's Chang'e 4 probe switches back to dormant mode". China Daily. 13 February 2019.
- ^ "China lands Jade Rabbit robot rover on Moon". BBC. 14 December 2013.
- ^ Molnár, László (24 May 2013). "Chang'e-3 revealed – and its massive!". Pull Space Technologies. Archived from the original on 6 June 2017. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
- ^ "China's first moon rover has experienced a "mechanical control abnormality". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 26 January 2014.
- ^ Boyle, Alan (12 January 2014). "Chinese moon lander and rover wake up after weeks of sleep". NBC News. Archived from the original on 14 January 2014.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Not dead yetwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Jeff Foust (30 October 2015). "China's Immobile Rover Passes a Purely Figurative Milestone". SpaceNews.
- ^ China Focus: China's upgraded lunar rover drives on moon's far side
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