China's Yutu 2 rover just turned two years old, and NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has kept a sharp eye on its movements during its mission on the far side of the moon.<\/p>\n
While China's Chang'e 5 sample-return mission has been basking in the lunar limelight, the Chang'e 4 mission was also back in action. Chang'e 4 launched to the moon in May 2018 and deployed the Yutu 2 rover to the lunar surface on Jan. 3, 2019. The sun rose over Von Krmn crater on Dec. 7, meaning the solar-powered lander and Yutu 2 rover were active on Dec. 9.<\/p>\n
The China Lunar Exploration Program stated the spacecraft had completed their lunar day's work on Dec. 22. Yutu 2 covered 35.9 feet. (10.95 meters) during lunar day 25, meaning a total drive distance of 1,970 feet (600.55 m) during its time on the far side of the moon.<\/p>\n
Related: China unveils ambitious moon mission plans for 2024 and beyond<\/p>\n
Meanwhile the team behind the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC) at the School of Earth and Space Exploration, Arizona State University, have combined a number of images to show the two-year-old rover's journey.<\/p>\n
The set of images taken by the LROC start from just before the historic January 2019 Chang'e 4 landing and lead up to recent lunar days.<\/p>\n
The images from orbit show Yutu 2's progress across the crater-pocked floor of Von Krmn crater.<\/p>\n
Related: Yutu 2 snaps stunning new panoramas from the moon's far side<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Yutu 2 has been heading to the northwest of its lander companion but faces a landscape strewn with craters which could trap the roughly 309-lb. (140 kilograms) Yutu 2.<\/p>\n
LRO also spotted the Chang'e 5 lander just a day after its historic touchdown in Oceanus Procellarum.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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NASA spacecraft reveals travels of China's Yutu 2 rover on far side of the moon - Space.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" China's Yutu 2 rover just turned two years old, and NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has kept a sharp eye on its movements during its mission on the far side of the moon. While China's Chang'e 5 sample-return mission has been basking in the lunar limelight, the Chang'e 4 mission was also back in action. Chang'e 4 launched to the moon in May 2018 and deployed the Yutu 2 rover to the lunar surface on Jan. Continue reading