CHINA’S LUNAR ROVER DISCOVERS MYSTERIOUS SUBSTANCE ON MOON’S FAR SIDE

Beijing: China’s lunar rover Yutu-2, or Jade Rabbit-2, discovered an unidentified substance in an impact crater on the far side of the moon.

The discovery was made during Yutu-2’s ninth lunar day of exploration on the moon, according to the Lunar Exploration and Space Program Center of the China National Space Administration.

The ground controllers designed a driving route for the rover to allow it to conduct scientific detection to the depth of the impact crater and the distribution of the ejecta, said the centre.

“The Yutu-2 rover is expected to bring us more surprises and scientific discoveries,” said the centre.

The lander of the Chang’e-4 probe and the Yutu-2 rover have resumed work for the 10th lunar day on the far side of the moon after “sleeping” during the extremely cold lunar night.

The lander woke up at 8.26pm on Monday, and the rover awoke at 8.30pm on Sunday (Beijing Time). Both are in normal working condition, according to the centre. The rover has traveled about 285 meters on the moon to conduct scientific exploration on the virgin territory.

China’s Chang’e-4 probe, launched on December 8, 2018, made the first-ever soft landing on the Von Karman Crater in the South Pole-Aitken Basin on the far side of the moon on January 3.

A lunar day equals 14 days on Earth, and a lunar night is the same length. The Chang’e-4 probe switched to a dormant mode during the lunar night due to the lack of solar power.