Chang'e 3: Lunar Day 3 and onwards, Ongoing discussion of the Rover/Lander mission Options

[Cosmic Penguin]

Whatever it is, it looks like the "problem" is wheel/bogie related, as it turns out that Yutu was almost fully operational on the third lunar day (which it didn't move for the whole period), with the PanCam, VIRS and GPM working (I assume that the APXS is too, just that ground controllers aren't bothered with pulling its arm out): http://www.chinanews.com/mil/2014/02-23/5870836.shtml

And of course the lander's LUT and EUV imager were working as well for the whole lunar day. The lander went into hibernation for the 3rd lunar night yesterday, with the lander following several hours ago.

Here's a (new?) photo by the PanCam of the rover:

Attached thumbnail(s)

 

[kenny]

I think that is indeed a 'new' photo, taken from a position South-west of the lander. My guess is it is taken from fairly close to the lander, from a position not shown on Phil's map -- in other words,
after coming round the lander Yutu perhaps made an excursion westwards which has not been noticed or recorded so far.

An alternative explanation for that view might be that it was taken in zoom mode from the 11-14 January position or later. However, I think that less plausible because of the clear view it shows of the
turning tracks made after deployment - those would be surely more foreshortened if seen in zoom from a distance.

Edit: one further thought... the shadows of the 2 deployment ramps in the 'new' photo are cast directly below the ramps, showing the sun was due south and therefore it was local midday.
The earlier post deployment photos of Chang'e from Yutu were taken well after midday, as the link below shows. Hence, the 'new' picture was perhaps taken on Day 2.

Chang'e from the south, Day 1

[dilo]

Here's a (new?) photo by the PanCam of the rover:

In this site the pictures are two, from left and right mastcam:
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/photo/20...133136783_2.htm
Here below the crossed eye version:

[kenny]

So this status report alongside the picture, implies that Yutu could even have taken the 'new' photo on Day 3....

" This undated photo taken by the camera on the Yutu moon rover shows the Chang'e-3 moon lander and the moon surface. The Chang'e-3 lander entered its third dormancy on early Feb. 23, 2014. China's
lunar rover Yutu also entered the dormancy on Feb. 22, with the mechanical control issues that might cripple the vehicle still unresolved. According to the State Administration of Science, Technology
and Industry for National Defence (SASTIND), Yutu only carried out fixed point observations during its third lunar day, equivalent to about two weeks on Earth.
Yutu's radar, panorama camera and infrared imaging equipment are functioning normally, the control issues that have troubled the rover since January persist. (Xinhua/SASTIND) "

And the parallax on those 2 left/right photos shows they were definitely taken close the lander from the SW, at a new position.

[Explorer1]

Ah, so they did move back towards the lander after all. Whether the remaining B/W cameras can make out a visible fault is the multimillion yuan question...

[Hungry4info]

http://www.moondaily.com/reports/Is_Yutu_Stuck_999.html
http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/No_Call_for_Yutu_999.html

Some updates, with more elabouration on the technical state of the rover.

[Cosmic Penguin]

The "problem" with the rover has finally been reported: some sort of electrical problem with the motor-driving circuit board. That's still unresolved as of right now so some luck is needed again for the rover to wake up on the next lunar sunrise.

Source

[Paolo]

I can't see how a motor-driving board can put at risk the night hibernation. unless of course it also controls the retractable solar panels

[Cosmic Penguin]

I can't see how a motor-driving board can put at risk the night hibernation. unless of course it also controls the retractable solar panels

It seems that's exactly what Ye Peijian implying...

[Paolo]

yep, there is now also an English release where it is stated:

"Normal dormancy needs Yutu to fold its mast and solar panels," said Ye. "The driving unit malfunction prevented Yutu to do those actions."

[Phil Stooke]

If they can't fold one panel over the warm box, they probably can't tilt the other one down to face the rising sun (so it has to rise higher to shine on the panel and generate power). If they can't drive they may not be oriented to face that panel towards the rising sun, causing further delay.

Phil

[William Pei]

Chang'E 4 will launch this year, Ye Peijian also said: Chang'E 4 will landing a more challengeable place on the moon or even not the moon. So we may have two rabbit on the moon or another rabbit on some asteroid?

[kenny]

In that case, we may need a new thread for Chang'e 4, as we already have 5 covered.

A landing on anywhere other than the moon is a whole different game requiring extensive mission re-design.

[Phil Stooke]

I had the impression that a non-lunar option had been considered at some point in the past, but personally I would expect that the desire to demonstrate a fix for YuTu's problem would be most important now, as well as a wish to drive a much greater distance.

Phil

[Cosmic Penguin]

Chang'E 4 will launch this year, Ye Peijian also said: Chang'E 4 will landing a more challengeable place on the moon or even not the moon. So we may have two rabbit on the moon or another rabbit on some asteroid?

Are you sure? I saw 2016 mentioned elsewhere on the Chinese side.......