4 Jan Chinese Rover “Jade rabbit-2” touched the soft, furry surface of the moon, after slowly slid on the track from the platform of the lander “Chang’e-4”. The lunar Rover was deployed in about 10 hours after landing of the spacecraft “Chang’e-4” on the moon. For the first time in history we have a mobile probe, running on the far side of the moon — a great achievement of the Chinese national space administration and the developing space program of this country.
Chinese module explores the moon
“It’s a small step for Rover one giant leap for the Chinese nation,” said Wu Weiren, chief designer of the project exploration of the moon. “This giant leap is a crucial step for our space exploration and conquest of the Universe.”
Words, of course, very loud, but the true meaning of this statement is likely lost in translation. Under the “conquest” of the Universe Wu probably has in mind the growing domination of mankind over nature, not a creation of the Empire on a galactic scale. At least, we hope so.
In photos taken of the landing apparatus “Chang’e-4”, shows a six-wheeled Rover, firmly standing on the surface of the moon which lasts for a couple of tracks. Right in front of him lies a sinister hole, almost certainly crater. This image, along with others, obtained shortly after landing, is the first close-up shot on the side of the moon in history. Read more about “dark side of the moon” we have recently told. On the Moon is tidal locked, meaning that it always faces toward our planet on one side. It is wrong to call it the far side, “dark”, because there’s sunlight.
Each of the six wheels of the Rover works independently, so the “Jade rabbit-2” is able to move even if one of them fails. The Rover is able to overcome the obstacles of a height less than 20 inches and climb hills at an angle of 20 degrees, not more. Its maximum speed is 200 meters per hour.
In 2013, China launched its lunar Rover “Utah”, or “Jade rabbit-1”, near side of the moon mission “Chang’e-3”. It was the first soft landing probe on the moon since the Soviet mission of “Lunokhod-2” in 1973, but the Rover “Utah” has lost the ability to move after two lunar nights.
With the landing apparatus “Chang’e-4” “Jade rabbit 2” will be to collect scientific data that will help scientists learn more about the early Solar system, identify the potential presence of water ice to study the relationship between solar wind and lunar surface, and to study plant growth in low gravity.
Another interesting idea of the mission that China has tested an innovative technology, during which the spacecraft “Chang’e-4” Autonomous scanning the surface of the moon before landing, choosing the safest place to land. This had never been done before.
In addition to collecting valuable scientific data from China also conducts exploration and develops the technology needed for landing on the moon with the crew. Beijing has made it clear that he would like to build a base on the lunar surface.
But we have realized that to build a galactic Empire China will be just to all people on Earth, right? Let’s discuss in our chat in Telegram.