After making its soft landing, the Chang’e-3’s lander took pictures around its landing spot. Now scientists have pieced them together to form the lander’s first panoramic view of the lunar surface.
At the Chang’e-3’s remote control center, a special gift from the moon rover "Jade rabbit".
After making its soft landing, the Chang’e-3’s lander took pictures around
its landing spot.
"This picture is made of 60 pictures taken 3 times by the rover. The rover used three angles: vertical, 15 degrees tilted up, and 15 degrees down...so that we get an even farther view. " said Liu Enhai, Designer in Chief, Chang’E-3 Probe System.
The picture shows Chang’e-3’s landing spot being pretty even. But around it there are also rocks and pits, a big impact crater is about 10 meters away.
Experts say it was the first time ever that a lunar probe automatically moved away from this pitfall. All part of an intricate program embodied in itself.
"The rover reached the point of X after it went down from the lander, then it established contact with the ground. Then it went to point A, where the rover and lander took pictures of each other. Then it reached point B, where it’s standing now." said Liu Jianjun, Deputy Chief Designer, Chang’E-3 Ground System.
The lunar probe, named after the mythical Chinese Goddess Chang’e, began its descent towards the moon on December 14th at 9 p.m. Beijing time. about 12 minutes later, it touched down on the moon crater Sinus Iridum, or Bay of Rainbows.
Seven hours later, the 140-kilogram Yutu rover rolled out, its six wheels cutting into the moon’s powdery surface. After taking photos, the next step, scientists say, is more research on the moon itself.
