BEIJING, Dec. 15 (Xinhuanet) -- The Yutu rover or Jade Rabbit, has successfully separated from the lander and begun its exploration of the moon’s surface.
Seven hours after the Chang’e-3 probe made its soft landing.
The 140-kilogram Yutu rover rolled out on Sunday at 4:35 a.m. Beijing time, its six wheels cutting into the moon’s powdery surface.
The night before, engineers gave clearance for the landing and sent the separation command to Chang’e-3.
The rover powered up by the lander’s solar wings. Then, Yutu was ready to go.
The rover descended the ladder-like transferer. It then established communications with the command center on Earth.
Zhou Jianliang, Chief Engineer of Beijing Aerospace Control Center, said, "Starting from this afternoon, we will give orders to the rover to circle around half the lander. Then the two will take photos of each other."
The rover and the lander each have their own exploration mission.
The cameras on the probe have already sent back over four thousand and six hundred images, taken during the soft-landing.
It’s just the start of the first lunar close-ups in nearly four decades, giving people on earth a new look at the moon.
(Source: CNTV.cn)
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