China: Yutu rover "alive" but suffering problems
Posted: Thu, Feb 13, 2014, 9:43 AM ET (1443 GMT)
Chinese officials said early Thursday that the the Yutu lunar rover, which many Western outlets had reported to be lost on Wednesday, was functioning but suffering technical problems. A spokesman told official Chinese media that controllers were in communication with the rover, but that it was suffering from unspecified technical problems. Yutu went into hibernation in late January at the beginning of the two-week lunar night "under an abnormal status," according to Chinese officials, with some Western observers speculating the rover was not able to fold up one of its solar panels that would allow it to retain heat. The Chinese account contradicted a number of accounts in Western media on Wednesday that the rover was dead after it failed to respond to commands on Monday. The mission spokesman said that since Yutu was now in contact with controllers, there was some hope of resuming normal operations.
Chinese officials said early Thursday that the the Yutu lunar rover, which many Western outlets had reported to be lost on Wednesday, was functioning but suffering technical problems. A spokesman told official Chinese media that controllers were in communication with the rover, but that it was suffering from unspecified technical problems. Yutu went into hibernation in late January at the beginning of the two-week lunar night "under an abnormal status," according to Chinese officials, with some Western observers speculating the rover was not able to fold up one of its solar panels that would allow it to retain heat. The Chinese account contradicted a number of accounts in Western media on Wednesday that the rover was dead after it failed to respond to commands on Monday. The mission spokesman said that since Yutu was now in contact with controllers, there was some hope of resuming normal operations.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Wednesday, March 25
Too Little, Too Late? Russia Launches 16 Satellites to Rival Starlink’s Thousands-Strong Constellation
United24 Media — 5:25 am ET (0925 GMT) Launch Services To Gain From Artemis Moon Mission Revamp
Aviation Week — 5:19 am ET (0919 GMT) Texas Supreme Court weighs constitutional beach access in case against SpaceX
Texas Standard — 5:18 am ET (0918 GMT) Texas quietly approves Starbase launch site expansion
San Antonio Express-News — 5:17 am ET (0917 GMT) SpaceX Reschedules Rocket Launch to Wednesday Night
Santa Barbara (CA) Edhat — 5:16 am ET (0916 GMT) |
