Originally published on February 13, 2014
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China's Jade Rabbit moon rover has returned to 'normal signal receiving-status' on Thursday (February 13) after state media reported that it had stopped functioning on Wednesday.
"Jade Rabbit has fully resurrected and is able to receive signals, but still suffers a mechanical control abnormality," China's lunar program spokesman Pei Zhaoyu said in a Xinhua report.
Prolonged exposure to direct sunlight on the moon's surface causes dust grains to eject electrons. Repulsion among the grains causes the dust to levitate. Online speculation suggested that lunar dust may have blocked one of the rover's solar panels from folding, thus preventing the rover from shutting down properly as it entered the extreme cold of the lunar night on January 25.
On Monday, February 10, the Jade Rabbit failed to reawaken from its hibernation. Xinhua reported on February 12 that the rover had lost communication with mission control, but despite still experiencing a mechanical control abnormality, the lunar buggy was again picking up signals on February 13.
"The rover entered hibernation while in an abnormal state. We were worried it wouldn't be able to make it through the extreme cold of the lunar night. But it came back alive. The rover stands a chance of being saved as it is still alive," Pei said.
The Chang-e 3 lunar probe technical team is still working to determine the exact cause of the problem in order to devise a repair plan.
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