Solar power is playing a crucial role in China’s exploration of the moon.
China’s moon rover, Yutu (Jade Rabbit), has continued exploring the lunar surface after a short “nap” according to China’s State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence.
Yutu separated from the Chang’e-3 lander on December 15. Yutu will explore the surface and what lies beneath for three months, while the Chang’e-3 lander will conduct its own experiments from its stationary position for one year.
Both the lander and rover are being powered by the sun via solar panels.
While technical specifications of both craft are scant, it’s understood the six-wheeled Yutu weighs 140 kg and has a payload capacity of 20 kg. It measures 1.5 metres long with its two wings folded, is 1 metre in width and 1.1 metres high.
Capable of exploring an area of 3 square kilometres during its 3-month mission, it has a maximum travelling distance of 10 kilometres; with energy provided by two solar panels.
The rover features ground-penetrating radar (GPR) on its underside that can penetrate down to a depth of 30 metres. Also on the rover are an alpha particle X-ray spectrometer and an infrared spectrometer, plus stereo cameras.
According to the Xinhua news agency, Yutu has had to deal with extreme conditions such as direct solar radiation raising the temperature of one side of the rover to over 100 degrees Celsius, while the shaded side simultaneously fell below freezing point.
The mission represents the first “soft landing” of a probe on the moon for 37 years and China is now the third country to land a craft on the moon; following the US and former Soviet Union.
The name of the rover was chosen after an online poll. In Chinese mythology, Yutu was the name of the pet rabbit belonging to the lunar goddess Chang’e.
