View Full Version : China successfully soft-lands probe on the moon



Prunepicker
12-14-2013, 07:06 PM
From the Associated Press (http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS_CHINA_SPACE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2013-12-14-08-20-17)
BEIJING (AP) -- China on Saturday successfully carried out the world's
first soft landing of a space probe on the moon in nearly four decades,
state media said, the next stage in an ambitious space program that aims
to eventually put a Chinese astronaut on the moon.

The unmanned Chang'e 3 lander, named after a mythical Chinese goddess
of the moon, touched down on Earth's nearest neighbor following a 12
minute landing process.

The probe carried a six-wheeled moon rover called "Yutu," or "Jade
Rabbit," the goddess' pet. After landing Saturday evening on a fairly flat,
Earth-facing part of the moon, the rover was slated to separate from
the Chang'e eight hours later and embark on a three-month scientific
exploration.

ljbab728
12-14-2013, 08:40 PM
From the Associated Press (http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS_CHINA_SPACE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2013-12-14-08-20-17)
BEIJING (AP) -- China on Saturday successfully carried out the world's
first soft landing of a space probe on the moon in nearly four decades,
state media said, the next stage in an ambitious space program that aims
to eventually put a Chinese astronaut on the moon.

The unmanned Chang'e 3 lander, named after a mythical Chinese goddess
of the moon, touched down on Earth's nearest neighbor following a 12
minute landing process.

The probe carried a six-wheeled moon rover called "Yutu," or "Jade
Rabbit," the goddess' pet. After landing Saturday evening on a fairly flat,
Earth-facing part of the moon, the rover was slated to separate from
the Chang'e eight hours later and embark on a three-month scientific
exploration.
Is there any particular reason you posted this or do you have thoughts about it that you didn't mention? It is an interesting event, however.

RadicalModerate
12-14-2013, 10:01 PM
In reality, the name of the probe is Yutube and it's the Chinese version of a spy satellite.
Actually, not so much a satellite but more like a land based satellite on a larger orbiting satellite.

OKCisOK4me
12-15-2013, 12:17 AM
Maybe they're going to look for the famous footprint, American flag, various moon landing vehicles and mirror we left on the moon that we shoot the laser at every day!

Cocaine
12-15-2013, 01:41 AM
Pretty damn impressive and the landing site is very far away from all the other landing sites. Just doing some test for the most part.

trousers
12-15-2013, 06:47 AM
Great...now the Chinese are faking moon landings too.