China's moon rover experiences abnormality

[Waspie_Dwarf]

China's moon rover experiences abnormality

BEIJING, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- China's moon rover, Yutu (Jade Rabbit), has experienced a mechanical control abnormality, and scientists are organizing repairs.

The abnormality occurred due to "complicated lunar surface environment," the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence (SASTIND) said on Saturday, without giving further details.

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[seeder]

Ah well we have to wait and see then! It'd be a pity for a total failure, but still, at least China made it with the landing - and 'some' short exploration. Fingers crossed for Jade Rabbit !

[Waspie_Dwarf]

It'd be a pity for a total failure,

How can it be a total failure when it has already returned scientific data? Or am I misinterpreting that and you mean a mission ending malfunction?

but still, at least China made it with the landing - and 'some' short exploration.

It was only designed for a three month mission... and half of that time would have been spent in hibernation through the lunar night, so it with close tom 4 weeks operation on the Moon (It has just entered it's second period of hibernation) it's not far off half of it's planned mission time already... and that is assuming the problem can't be fixed or worked around.

Fingers crossed for Jade Rabbit !

Now that I do agree with.

[DONTEATUS]

I wonder where the broken part was built?