Chinese lunar rover enters the third "moonlit night" with a previous drive unit malfunction

The other day, official confirmation was received that the malfunction of the Yutu rover was in a problem with the control circuit of the drive unit. As previously reported, it was this problem that led to the fact that the rover mast, with communication systems sensitive to the "weather" on the Moon, cannot properly fit inside the heated box.

On the mast "Yutu" is a communication system, as well as cameras for shooting. All this should take shape when the team is on the ground, getting inside the case with heating (in the case the temperature does not fall below 40 degrees Celsius). It is worth recalling that during a moonlit night the temperature drops to minus 180 degrees Celsius.

In addition, a problem with the drive unit makes it impossible to control the position of the solar panels. Using an appropriate control system, solar panels are installed in a position in which they receive maximum solar energy.

It is worth recalling that after the second moonlit night, which the lunar rover spent without the ability to protect important systems from the effects of low temperature, the device “woke up”. But, as it turned out, Yut is deprived of the opportunity to move due to problems with the drives. Observations were now carried out only from the spot, due to the fact that the panoramic and infrared equipment transferred the low temperature normally. In addition, the "survived" and the radar.



As a result, the problem with the drive unit could not be solved, and the lunar rover enters moonlit night again without the necessary protection of temperature-sensitive systems. Let's hope that even after his third "night" on the moon, the lunar rover "wakes up."

Via phys