← ALL ROVERS
LOCATIONMare Imbrium
LAT44.12°
LON-19.51°
DISTANCE TRAVELED0.114 km
DAYS ACTIVE31
0.114
KM TRAVELED
TOTAL DISTANCE
0.071 mi
31
DAYS
SURFACE OPERATIONS
665
PHOTOS
IMAGES CAPTURED
140
KG
ROVER MASS
309 lbs
0.2 km/h
TOP SPEED
MAXIMUM VELOCITY
Yutu is a moon rover by CNSA. Landed December 14, 2013. Operating at Mare Imbrium. Has traveled 0.114 km.
ABOUT YUTU
Yutu (Jade Rabbit) was China’s first lunar rover, part of the Chang’e 3 mission. It became immobilized after traveling approximately 114 meters when a mechanical control abnormality occurred during its second lunar night. Despite the mobility failure, Yutu continued to communicate and collect data for 31 months. Its ground-penetrating radar revealed at least 9 distinct subsurface layers beneath Mare Imbrium, providing new insights into the Moon’s geological history.
KEY DISCOVERIES
- New type of basalt found at landing site
- Subsurface structure revealed by ground-penetrating radar to 400m depth
- At least 9 distinct subsurface layers identified beneath Mare Imbrium
TECHNOLOGY & FIRSTS
- First Chinese rover on the Moon
- First soft landing on Moon in 37 years (since Luna 24 in 1976)
- Ground-penetrating radar revealed subsurface layers
SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS (4)
Panoramic camera
Lunar Penetrating Radar (LPR)
Visible/Near-IR Imaging Spectrometer (VNIS)
Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS)
SPACECRAFT SPECIFICATIONS
Wheels6
Mass140 kg (309 lbs)
Dimensions1.5m long, 1.0m wide, 1.1m tall
Top Speed0.2 km/h
PowerSolar panels + radioisotope heater units (140W)
CommunicationsRelay via Chang'e 3 lander + direct X-band
Design Life3 months
Landing DateDecember 14, 2013
Mission EndAugust 3, 2016
ProgramChinese Lunar Exploration