In a world first, the Chinese have successfully landed a rover on the ‘dark side’ of the moon, a place no human has gone before, and the side of the moon we have very few pictures of.
The 308-pound rover is named Yutu-2, or Jade Rabbit 2. We see in photos the rover rolling off of it’s lander, into the soft surface of the moon. After testing all functionality of the rover, it will begin it’s full mission January 10, carrying out mineral, biological and radiation tests ahead of a future base that China hopes to build on the moon.
Yutu-2 and its accompanying lander will carry out mineral, biological and radiation tests ahead of a future base that China hopes to build on the moon.
In a somewhat extravagant/ominous note, the Chinese government released a statement:
“It’s a small step for the rover, but one giant leap for the Chinese nation,” Wu Weiren, the chief designer of the Lunar Exploration Project, told CCTV. “This giant leap is a decisive move for our exploration of space and the conquering of the universe.”
