China: "control circuit" failure on Yutu keeps rover from moving
Posted: Tue, Mar 4, 2014, 6:13 AM ET (1113 GMT)
Chinese officials said the malfunction of a "control circuit" on its first lunar rover, Yutu, is keeping the rover from moving. The failed circuit in the rover's "driving unit" has kept the spacecraft from moving, and also prevents it from lowering its mast and folding in its solar panels to conserve heat during the two-week lunar night. That failure took place prior to going into hibernation in late January, and the rover was late in resuming operations in early February, leading to premature reports that the rover had failed entirely. The rover is again in hibernation and project officials say they are hopeful it will awaken again later this month. The rover's scientific instruments have been working normally despite the driving unit malfunction, but the rover's inability to move limits the usefulness of some of those instruments.
Chinese officials said the malfunction of a "control circuit" on its first lunar rover, Yutu, is keeping the rover from moving. The failed circuit in the rover's "driving unit" has kept the spacecraft from moving, and also prevents it from lowering its mast and folding in its solar panels to conserve heat during the two-week lunar night. That failure took place prior to going into hibernation in late January, and the rover was late in resuming operations in early February, leading to premature reports that the rover had failed entirely. The rover is again in hibernation and project officials say they are hopeful it will awaken again later this month. The rover's scientific instruments have been working normally despite the driving unit malfunction, but the rover's inability to move limits the usefulness of some of those instruments.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Friday, April 10
Amazon Leo to Launch 'Mid-2026,' CEO Hints at Lower Price Than Starlink
PC Magazine — 6:24 am ET (1024 GMT) Amazon’s Starlink competitor Leo gets a new date
The Verge — 6:23 am ET (1023 GMT) Space Force Picks 14 Firms to Compete to Build Reconnaissance Satellites
Air and Space Forces Magazine — 6:22 am ET (1022 GMT) Oxygen made from Moon dust for first time
The Daily Telegraph — 6:19 am ET (1019 GMT) This founder helped build SpaceX’s most powerful rocket engine. Now he’s building a ‘fighter jet for orbit.’
TechCrunch — 6:19 am ET (1019 GMT) |
