Jade Rabbit: “Goodnight Earth, Goodnight Humanity”
January 30, 2014
The Jade Rabbit, China’s troubled moon rover, is facing its possible demise with comforting messages sent to well-wishers using social media. Thousands of Chinese, in turn, have sent encouragements to the little robot as it struggles to continue its mission after suffering a potentially crippling mechanical problem. The six-wheeled rover, which was deployed soon after the Chinese Chang’e-3 spacecraft touched down on the surface of the moon on December 16, 2013, was supposed to study the geology of the lunar surface and search for minerals and other natural resources for three months. On January 25, 2014, however, Chinese authorities reported that the rover had experienced a “mechanical control abnormality” as it prepared for the lunar night. Although Chinese scientists are working to solve the problem, they realize that the problem may doom the mission, and the Jade Rabbit (Yutin in the Mandarin Chinese language).
The Jade Rabbit rover is powered by solar energy during the day and by batteries at night. To survive the bitterly cold temperatures of the lunar night, which can be as low as or -290 ° F (-180° C), the rover is supposed to go into a hibernation mode. The rover’s camera and antenna retract, and a solar panel folds over to cover the rover like a blanket. A battery-power heater keeps the rover warm through the lunar night, which lasts 14 Earth days. Another solar panel is positioned to catch rays from the sun when it rises again.
As the rover was preparing for the lunar night, a malfunction prevented the rover from successfully reaching hibernation mode. Scientists have not described the exact nature of the mechanical problem, but they have indicated that the rover may not survive until the lunar sunrise. For now, the rover is dormant.
The Chinese rover Jade Rabbit appears on the surface of the moon in a photograph taken by the Chang’e lander. (CCTV.com English)
China’s state-run Xinhua news is covering the status of the Jade Rabbit in first-person reports via social media. In one message, the Jade Rabbit said, “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…. Nevertheless, I’m aware that I might not survive this lunar night.”
The Jade Rabbit appears to be facing its possible fate with the stoicism and grace characteristic of the most intrepid explorers. Chinese news reports quoted the rover saying, “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. The sun has fallen, and the temperature is dropping so quickly… to tell you all a secret, I don’t feel that sad. I was just in my own adventure story–and like every hero, I encountered a small problem.”
Chinese scientists must wait until February 8 to learn the fate of the brave Jade Rabbit.
Additional World Book articles:
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
- Space exploration (2012) (a Back in Time article)
- Space exploration (2008) (a Back in Time article)
- Space exploration (2003) (a Back in Time article)
