The mechanical controls of China’s Jade Rabbit lunar rover got fried, and the poor little thing probably froze to death during the Moon’s cold night. Think your “Polar Vortex” is cold? Overnight lows on the Moon can go down to -180C (-292F).
The Jade Rabbit (Yutu in Chinese) is named for the mythical pet bunny companion of the Moon Goddess Chang’e, for whom the mission’s lunar lander is named. During its final moments Yutu bade a touching if long-winded farewell, reported by the Xinhua news service. Excerpts:
“Although I should’ve gone to bed this morning, my masters discovered something abnormal with my mechanical control system. My masters are staying up all night working for a solution. I heard their eyes are looking more like my red rabbit eyes. Nevertheless, I’m aware that I might not survive this lunar night.”
“[Chang’e] doesn’t know about my problems yet. If I can’t be fixed, everyone please comfort her.”
“This is space exploration; the danger comes with its beauty. I am but a tiny dot in the vast picture of mankind’s adventure in space.”
“Goodnight, Earth. Goodnight, humanity.”
More:
“China fears for ‘Jade Rabbit’ lunar rover,” Duncan Geere, Wired UK
“China’s Jade Rabbit Lunar Lander May Be Out of Luck,” Irene Klotz, Discovery News
“‘Goodnight, humans’: China’s Jade Rabbit moon rover posting,” AFP via Phys.org
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Image (“Jade Rabbit Hash, after Cui Bai”) by Mike Licht. Download a copy here. Creative Commons license; credit Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com
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Tags: China, Chinese Lunar Exploration Program, CLEP, CNSA, exploration, Jade Rabbit, lunar exploration, lunar mission, moon, moon rabbit, outer space, space, Yu Tu, Yutu
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