China's moon rover, Jade Rabbit, has 'abnormality': state media

[45'22']

nothing wrong there,such things happen in space missions

 

[dontsuspendme]

These space missions are also our message to the world, Made in China is quality. Man landing on the moon will do that for Chinese products. Space station will do that for Chinese products.

Failure is counter productive. In order to advance our economy we must be able to get greater returns on products, and the only way to do that is quality products that charge a fair price.

These missions are literally carrying the dreams and hopes of a nation.

The thing that i am trying to convey is that whatever china may achieve, the world will not recognize them due to competition...
Just work for pleasing the general chinese public and china is already good at that...

 

[shuttler]

The thing that i am trying to convey is that whatever china may achieve, the world will not recognize them due to competition...
Just work for pleasing the general chinese public and china is already good at that...

What another vile reply and round of BS
First of all we are on our own path. Our targets are set by our own Scientists and Aministrators. They are not set by you indians or the west.
Second, all scientific endeavours serve multiple purposes. aint you indians grand masters in hyping up your own people?

 

[tranquilium]

It was speculated that the cause of the problem is the high lunar day/night temperature difference. Lunar surface can reach up 120 degree Celsius during day time and close to negative 200 degree Celsius during night time. Hence any lunar probe must go into hibernation during night time.

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

It was speculated that the cause of the problem is the high lunar day/night temperature difference. Lunar surface can reach up 120 degree Celsius during day time and close to negative 200 degree Celsius during night time. Hence any lunar probe must go into hibernation during night time.

The moon is a very tricky and hostile environment to be in. If something mechanical freezes up the solar panels might not be able to re-allign and that will be that. The solar panels on the older Mars rovers would get covered by dust storms and mess everything up. They switched to nuclear for the latest rover.

 

[tranquilium]

The moon is a very tricky and hostile environment to be in. If something mechanical freezes up the solar panels might not be able to re-allign and that will be that. The solar panels on the older Mars rovers would get covered by dust storms and mess everything up. They switched to nuclear for the latest rover.

Aye, make you really appreciate mother earth when you realize just hostile the universe is to life, but as Tsiolkovsky wisely put: "Earth is the cradle of humanity, but one cannot live in a cradle forever." So despite these challenges, we need to invest more and more resource into space exploration.

 

[Juice]

Having issues on these type of missions actually is useful....you learn to deal with the unexpected.

 

[TruthSeeker]

A decade after landing on Mars, NASA's Opportunity rover still going strong
Published January 24, 2014
Associated Press

• 
  
  This artist rendering released by NASA shows the NASA rover Opportunity on the surface of Mars. Opportunity landed on the red planet on Jan. 24, 2004 and is still exploring. Its twin Spirit stopped communicating in 2010. (AP PHOTO / NASA)

LOS ANGELES – A decade after landing on Mars, the rover Opportunity is still chugging along.

Sure, it has some wear and tear. One of its six wheels and two instruments stopped working long ago. It has an arthritic joint. Its flash memory occasionally suffers a senior moment.

But these problems are considered minor for a journey that was supposed to be just a three-month adventure.

"No one ever expected this — that after 10 years a Mars exploration rover would continue to operate and operate productively," project manager John Callas said Thursday.

NASA has scrutinized Earth's planetary neighbor for decades, starting with quick flybys and later with orbiters, landers and rovers.

Opportunity touched down on Jan. 24, 2004 — several weeks after its twin Spirit. Both rovers outlasted their warranty by years, but Spirit stopped phoning home in 2010 after getting stuck in sand.

Meanwhile, Opportunity has logged 24 miles crater-hopping. The solar-powered NASA rover is now in a sunny spot on the rim of Endeavour Crater where it's spending its sixth winter poking into rocks and dirt.

Its power levels have unexpectedly improved. A recent "selfie" showed dust on its solar panels was later wiped away by blowing winds.

Early discoveries by the two rovers pointed to a planet that was once tropical and moist. However, the signs of water suggested an acidic environment that would have been too harsh for microbes.

More recently, Opportunity uncovered geologic evidence of water at Endeavour Crater that's more suited for drinking — a boon for scientists searching for extraterrestrial places where primitive life could have thrived. The crater is the largest of five craters examined by Opportunity.

A new study published by the journal Science Friday — on Opportunity's 10th anniversary — determined the rocks from the crater are the oldest yet — about 4 billion years old. The rocks interacted with water during a time when environmental conditions were favorable for microscopic organisms.

"This is really a neat area," said deputy project scientist Ray Arvidson of Washington University in St. Louis.

In 2012, Opportunity was joined on Mars by Curiosity, which is currently rolling across bumpy terrain toward a mountain. With snazzy tools like a laser, Curiosity quickly became the world's favorite rover.

Opportunity snatched some of the attention back earlier this month when it discovered a rock shaped like a jelly doughnut that suddenly appeared in its field of view, probably after its wheel kicked it up. Scientists said it's unlike any rock they've seen on Mars before.

It costs about $14 million a year to maintain Opportunity. NASA periodically reviews missions that have been extended to decide where to invest scarce dollars. The next decision is expected this year for Opportunity and other extended missions including Cassini at Saturn and Messenger at Mercury.

"From all the missions that we have, they're very productive and it would be a shame not to have enough to afford the continuation of those missions," said Michael Meyer of NASA headquarters.

In several months, Opportunity will decamp from its winter haven and head south to what scientists are calling the motherlode — a clay-rich spot that should yield more discoveries.

"As long as the rover keeps going, we'll keep going," said chief scientist Steve Squyres of Cornell University.

A decade after landing on Mars, NASA's Opportunity rover still going strong | Fox News



P. S. Maybe China would buy the Opportunity from the USA and then China would have a Mars rover, too!!

 

[Superboy]

A decade after landing on Mars, NASA's Opportunity rover still going strong
Published January 24, 2014
Associated Press

• 
  
  This artist rendering released by NASA shows the NASA rover Opportunity on the surface of Mars. Opportunity landed on the red planet on Jan. 24, 2004 and is still exploring. Its twin Spirit stopped communicating in 2010. (AP PHOTO / NASA)

LOS ANGELES – A decade after landing on Mars, the rover Opportunity is still chugging along.

Sure, it has some wear and tear. One of its six wheels and two instruments stopped working long ago. It has an arthritic joint. Its flash memory occasionally suffers a senior moment.

But these problems are considered minor for a journey that was supposed to be just a three-month adventure.

"No one ever expected this — that after 10 years a Mars exploration rover would continue to operate and operate productively," project manager John Callas said Thursday.

NASA has scrutinized Earth's planetary neighbor for decades, starting with quick flybys and later with orbiters, landers and rovers.

Opportunity touched down on Jan. 24, 2004 — several weeks after its twin Spirit. Both rovers outlasted their warranty by years, but Spirit stopped phoning home in 2010 after getting stuck in sand.

Meanwhile, Opportunity has logged 24 miles crater-hopping. The solar-powered NASA rover is now in a sunny spot on the rim of Endeavour Crater where it's spending its sixth winter poking into rocks and dirt.

Its power levels have unexpectedly improved. A recent "selfie" showed dust on its solar panels was later wiped away by blowing winds.

Early discoveries by the two rovers pointed to a planet that was once tropical and moist. However, the signs of water suggested an acidic environment that would have been too harsh for microbes.

More recently, Opportunity uncovered geologic evidence of water at Endeavour Crater that's more suited for drinking — a boon for scientists searching for extraterrestrial places where primitive life could have thrived. The crater is the largest of five craters examined by Opportunity.

A new study published by the journal Science Friday — on Opportunity's 10th anniversary — determined the rocks from the crater are the oldest yet — about 4 billion years old. The rocks interacted with water during a time when environmental conditions were favorable for microscopic organisms.

"This is really a neat area," said deputy project scientist Ray Arvidson of Washington University in St. Louis.

In 2012, Opportunity was joined on Mars by Curiosity, which is currently rolling across bumpy terrain toward a mountain. With snazzy tools like a laser, Curiosity quickly became the world's favorite rover.

Opportunity snatched some of the attention back earlier this month when it discovered a rock shaped like a jelly doughnut that suddenly appeared in its field of view, probably after its wheel kicked it up. Scientists said it's unlike any rock they've seen on Mars before.

It costs about $14 million a year to maintain Opportunity. NASA periodically reviews missions that have been extended to decide where to invest scarce dollars. The next decision is expected this year for Opportunity and other extended missions including Cassini at Saturn and Messenger at Mercury.

"From all the missions that we have, they're very productive and it would be a shame not to have enough to afford the continuation of those missions," said Michael Meyer of NASA headquarters.

In several months, Opportunity will decamp from its winter haven and head south to what scientists are calling the motherlode — a clay-rich spot that should yield more discoveries.

"As long as the rover keeps going, we'll keep going," said chief scientist Steve Squyres of Cornell University.

A decade after landing on Mars, NASA's Opportunity rover still going strong | Fox News



P. S. Maybe China would buy the Opportunity from the USA and then China would have a Mars rover, too!!

Spirit was lost. Kudos for Opportunity to be still going. Mars has much better environment than the Moon whose temperature ranges between 120 C in the day and -200 C at night. Mars is a lot like Earth. America's best days were the mid 70s to the mid 80s period when America was strongest. A lot of cool movies like Terminator, Ghostbusters, Police Academy were released in 1984. America is much weaker now compared to its hay day. Still, America is one of the top countries in the world, though ranking after China.

 

[KAL-EL]

Spirit was lost. Kudos for Opportunity to be still going. Mars has much better environment than the Moon whose temperature ranges between 120 C in the day and -200 C at night. Mars is a lot like Earth. America's best days were the mid 70s to the mid 80s period when America was strongest. A lot of cool movies like Terminator, Ghostbusters, Police Academy were released in 1984. America is much weaker now compared to its hay day. Still, America is one of the top countries in the world, though ranking after China.

 

[xyxmt]

yeah i saw that abnormality, she twitches her left eyes uncontrollably

 

[TruthSeeker]

NASA puts out the call for commercial lunar landers
Irene Klotz, Reuters

Lunar Catalyst

"The intent of this initiative is to stimulate and help commercialization," Jason Crusan, who oversees NASA's advanced exploration programs, said during a conference call with prospective bidders on Monday.

Development of commercial lunar landers would join a growing list of space transportation services that have attracted interest from U.S. companies, including the Boeing Co and Alliant Techsystems Inc.

NASA already has turned over cargo deliveries to the International Space Station to SpaceX and Orbital Sciences Corp. The companies hold NASA cargo resupply contracts worth a combined $3.5 billion.

NASA wants a balanced approach in which its contributions will help accelerate the development of industry projects, Crusan said during a follow-on conference call with reporters. "If a team came in and wanted everything from NASA and (wanted) us to build the landing service for them, that's not really much of a partnership," he said.

The space agency also is looking to buy rides commercially for its astronauts. At least three firms, SpaceX, Boeing and Sierra Nevada Corp., are in the running for NASA funding to help get their spaceships ready for test flights by the end of 2017.

Companies interested in Lunar Catalyst have until March 17 to submit business plans and proposals to NASA, which could decide to purchase hardware or services at a future date, Crusan said. ("Catalyst" is meant to stand for "Cargo Transportation and Landing by Soft Touchdown.")

As an example, Crusan cited a mission that's under development to mine water on the moon. NASA intends to partner with Canada and other countries to produce a rover and a lander for the mission. But If those plans fall through, NASA could look to buy the equipment from, or partner with, U.S. companies, Crusan said.

NASA already has contracts to buy lunar science and technical data from several teams competing in the $30 million Google X Prize competition to land and operate a privately owned vehicle on the moon before the end of 2015.

 

[Kloitra]

A lesson learnt. Hopefully next one would perform much better.

 

[Arya Desa]

One cannot say that this is unexpected, after all, we know the quality that comes from that land is subpar at best.

 

[thesolar65]

Please correct me, So we have only three countries that have successfully landed on moon. US, Russia and China? Now can some body tell if any one has landed on the permanently Dark side of moon?