China’s Yutu-2 Rover Has Now Traveled Over 345 Meters Across the Surface of the Moon
universetoday.com / December 9, 2019 / Matt Williams
Awww, it’s adorable! It looks like a baby bird. But — did they put some kind of cowboy hat on it?
On January 3rd, 2019, China’s Chang’e-4 lander became the first mission in history to make a soft-landing on the far side of the Moon. After setting down in the Von Karman Crater in the South Pole–Aitken Basin, the rover element of the mission (Yutu 2) deployed and began exploring the lunar surface. In that time, the rover has traveled a total of 345.059 meters (377 yards) through previously unexplored territory.
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All of this is in preparation for eventual crewed missions to the lunar surface, which include plans for the possible creation of a Chinese lunar base in the region.
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This marked the beginning of the next phase of the Chang’e-4 mission, which is to investigate the secrets of the early Universe.
You sure it’s not called Calgon-4?
The rover and lander will resume scientific operations when the next lunar day commences, just shy of the holidays. So far, the lander and rover elements have accomplished some very impressive things. In addition to growing the first plants on the Moon,
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And those could fetch Whole Food prices.
the rover also discovered that the impact that created the South Pole–Aitken Basin also brought material from the mantle up to the surface.
By discovering mantle rocks on the surface, the rover accomplished its primary objective while also confirming a theory about lunar impacts – i.e. that they played an important role in the geological evolution of the Moon’s surface. Both the lander and Yutu 2 rover are expected to make several more fascinating discoveries before they cease operations.
For the lander, this is scheduled to take place in January of 2020 . . .
Ironically, about the same time our ingenius House Democrats are expected to schedule a bogus impeachment vote.
There is a moral here, I just can’t put my finger on it…
Ha! Rumor has it these photos were staged on the back lot of some film studio in Shanghai.
Now that you mention it, the wheel tracks in Photo 1 don’t seem compatible with the ramp in Photo 2.
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So this U2-2 thingy is like R2D2?
“What “mission”? Fine. You go your way, U2-2; I’m going this way.”
The Chinese will be back. And in greater numbers.