Slashdot Mirror
Photos Stream Back From China's Lunar Lander
After the successful soft landing of its carrier vessel on the surface of the moon, China's Jade Rabbit lunar rover has begun beaming back photos of the lunar surface. From the BBC's article, with links to video as well as several photos, comes this description: "Chang'e-3 is the third unmanned rover mission to touch down on the lunar surface, and the first to go there in more than 40 years. The last was an 840kg (1,900lb) Soviet vehicle known as Lunokhod-2, which was kept warm by polonium-210. But the six-wheeled Chinese vehicle carries a more sophisticated payload, including ground-penetrating radar which will gather measurements of the lunar soil and crust. The 120kg (260lb) Jade Rabbit rover can reportedly climb slopes of up to 30 degrees and travel at 200m (660ft) per hour. ... The rover and lander are powered by solar panels but some sources suggest they also carry radioisotope heating units (RHUs), containing plutonium-238 to keep them warm during the cold lunar night. According to Chinese space scientists, the mission is designed to test new technologies, gather scientific data and build intellectual expertise. It will also scout valuable mineral resources that could one day be mined."
That first photo makes me think they are coming back with tablets and commandments...
Gently reply
I heard that the Sea of Tranquility is now the South China Sea of Tranquility.
I'm really tired of the media and politicians dismissing our lack of investment in science and space exploration by belittling Chinese efforts. "Durp durp, we already done been to the Moon, you stupid backwards Chiners durp durp!".
It's a first step that they'll likely quickly capitalize on and while our media and government like to convince us that the Chinese are goofy little 50-years-later-runners-up, they're an economic and political powerhouse that will, if they decide to invest further in it, leapfrog our accomplishments by light years. And sooner rather than later.
If we don't get serious about doing it ourselves -- or even better, co-operating with scientists on an international scale for the betterment of everyone -- we're going to look like the back water yokels.
They better be careful... We all remember what happened to the Tsien. Fortunately, this one is not manned...
Pics or it didn't hap-... Uh, wait...
Please go take pictures of the U.S Rovers and launch pads so the sales of books and DVD's that the USA never landed on the moon make them look like the foolish people they are :)
Except, as we all know, this so-called Chinese 'lunar' rover is actually just driving around a sound stage in Mongolia.
It was a soundstage on mars.
Maybe he wants them to line up in an orderly fashion to complain.
The quality of those photos is terrible. What'd they do, send up a cheap digital camera made in chi...
I don't think the Chinese have the technology to fake a landing, so they had to do it for real.
“He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
You are not a TRUE AMERICAN if you don't turn around, put your fingers in your ears and sing "La-La-La-La..."