Industryweek 5787 China Moon Rover

China's First Lunar Rover to Land on Moon Saturday

Dec. 13, 2013
"On the evening of Dec. 14, Chang'e-3 will carry out a soft landing on the lunar surface," said a post on the mission's official blog on Sina Weibo, a Chinese version of Twitter.

BEIJING - A space module carrying China's first lunar rover is scheduled to land on the moon Saturday, authorities said Friday, describing the maneuver as the mission's greatest challenge.

The spacecraft is scheduled to make touchdown 12 days after the Chang'e-3 mission blasted off on a Long March-3B carrier rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in the country's southwest.

"On the evening of Dec. 14, Chang'e-3 will carry out a soft landing on the lunar surface," said a post on the mission's official blog on Sina Weibo, a Chinese version of Twitter.

The task was described as the mission's "most difficult" in the post, which was written by the Chinese Academy of Sciences on behalf of the country's space authorities.

The Chang'e-3 mission is named after the goddess of the moon in Chinese mythology and the rover vehicle is called Yutu, or Jade Rabbit, after her pet.

The landing is expected to mark the latest step in an ambitious space program that is seen as a symbol of China's rising global stature and technological advancement.

China is aiming to become the third country to carry out a rover mission, following the United States and former Soviet Union decades ago.

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2013

Popular Sponsored Recommendations

Digitally Transforming Data and Processes With Product Lifecycle Management

Oct. 29, 2023
Manufacturers face increasing challenges in product development as they strive to consistently deliver improved results. Discover how industry leaders are improving time-to-market...

Discrete and Process Manufacturing 2024 Trends and Outlook for North America

Oct. 29, 2023
Manufacturers are reaping the benefits of automation and cloud-based solutions. Discover what is driving today's industry trends and how they can shape your growth priorities ...

Food and Beverage 2024 Trends and Outlook for North America

Oct. 29, 2023
Ready to hear what 200 of your peers said are the top challenges and opportunities in 2024? Don’t fall behind. Uncover actionable insights to better prepare for 2024 in this whitepaper...

The Guide to Balancing Citizen Development and Governance in Manufacturing Operations

Sept. 19, 2023
Platforms with no-code capabilities provide a competitive advantage for manufacturers responding to rapidly changing disruptions and demands. This guide helps manufacturers maintain...

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of IndustryWeek, create an account today!