We all know that China has landed a moon rover - Jade Rabbit on the surface of the Moon on 14th December, 2013. The rover has already sent its first pictures at that time.
But unfortunately the China's Jade Rabbit is experiencing some troubles. The rover is experiencing a mechanical control abnormality. The rover is experiencing the problems due to moon's complicated lunar surface environment. We all know that the rover has landed on Moon as a part of China's Chang'e -3 Mission which is the first soft landing on Moon since 1976. The rover was expected to operate for around 3 months. China has recently announced that Jade Rabbit also known as Yutu has successfully explored the Moon surface with its mechanical arm.
The malfunction emerged before the rover entered its scheduled dormancy period on 25th Jan, 2014. The scientists are trying to repair the rover. The rover was due to become dormant for 14 days during the lunar night when there will be no sunlight available to power the solar panels. As you alll know that the lunar cycle consists of 28 Earth days. For those 14 days the Moon is illuminated by the Sun which is called as Lunar Day and for the other 14 days the Moon is in shadow which is called Lunar Night. During the Lunar day, the rover is free to move around for those 14 days as the solar panels are powered by sun light. But during the lunar night, the temperatures reach below -170 degrees celcius and the rover enters into a state of hibernation. In this mode, a radio isotope heater unit ( which is a few grams of radio active plutonium) keeps the core systems warm enough so that they do not freeze to death.
But a mechanical control abnormality caused by the complicated lunar surface environment is preventing the rover from hibernating. China has several successful manned space flights but the malfunctioning rover presents the first public mishap in China's ambitious space programme.
It is expected that the Jade Rabbit will not function in future and this is the end of its life.
But unfortunately the China's Jade Rabbit is experiencing some troubles. The rover is experiencing a mechanical control abnormality. The rover is experiencing the problems due to moon's complicated lunar surface environment. We all know that the rover has landed on Moon as a part of China's Chang'e -3 Mission which is the first soft landing on Moon since 1976. The rover was expected to operate for around 3 months. China has recently announced that Jade Rabbit also known as Yutu has successfully explored the Moon surface with its mechanical arm.
The malfunction emerged before the rover entered its scheduled dormancy period on 25th Jan, 2014. The scientists are trying to repair the rover. The rover was due to become dormant for 14 days during the lunar night when there will be no sunlight available to power the solar panels. As you alll know that the lunar cycle consists of 28 Earth days. For those 14 days the Moon is illuminated by the Sun which is called as Lunar Day and for the other 14 days the Moon is in shadow which is called Lunar Night. During the Lunar day, the rover is free to move around for those 14 days as the solar panels are powered by sun light. But during the lunar night, the temperatures reach below -170 degrees celcius and the rover enters into a state of hibernation. In this mode, a radio isotope heater unit ( which is a few grams of radio active plutonium) keeps the core systems warm enough so that they do not freeze to death.
But a mechanical control abnormality caused by the complicated lunar surface environment is preventing the rover from hibernating. China has several successful manned space flights but the malfunctioning rover presents the first public mishap in China's ambitious space programme.
It is expected that the Jade Rabbit will not function in future and this is the end of its life.
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