On December 14th, the first rover to ever touch the surface of the moon was successfully deployed. Named “Jade Rabbit,” this rover is an important milestone in China’s space exploration history and will provide valuable data for future missions. Check out these five facts about Jade Rabbit that you may not have known!
1) JADE RABBIT weighs over 180 pounds (82 kg)
2) It carries a camera, four solar panels, two pairs of stereo cameras, and infrared detectors
3) Infrared detectors are used to measure soil temperature on Mars-like terrains
4) JADE RABBIT can climb slopes up to 30 degrees
5) The mission has been planned for nearly 10 years
