Jade Rabbit hops into lunar record books.
CHINA’S Jade Rabbit rover sent back its first pictures from the moon, as officials yesterday lauded the first lunar soft landing in nearly four decades as a step forward for humanity.
“Exploration of outer space is an unremitting pursuit of mankind,” China’s space agency, the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence said.
The successful mission reflects “the new glory of China to scale the peaks in world science and technology areas”, it said, adding it was committed to exploring and using space “for peaceful purposes”.
The space agency also offered to step up cooperation with other countries in the field “to utilise outer space and benefit mankind as a whole”.
Images released by China’s official news agency Xinhua show the lander, covered in golden foil, standing in the Sinus Iridum or Bay of Rainbows, its solar panels open to generate power. The images were transmitted live to the Beijing Aerospace Control Centre, where President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang watched the broadcast.
Ma Xingrui, chief commander of China’s lunar programme, declared the mission a “complete success” after the photographs showed the lander and rover were working.
News of the landing quickly made an impact on China’s hugely popular internet message boards, topping the list of searched items.
“Myth has become reality at this moment,” wrote one user. “Made in China has made it to the moon.” — Sapa-AFP
China takes giant step for mankind
CHINA’S Jade Rabbit rover sent back its first pictures from the moon, as officials yesterday lauded the first lunar soft landing in nearly four decades as a step forward for humanity.
“Exploration of outer space is an unremitting pursuit of mankind,” China’s space agency, the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence said.
The successful mission reflects “the new glory of China to scale the peaks in world science and technology areas”, it said, adding it was committed to exploring and using space “for peaceful purposes”.
The space agency also offered to step up cooperation with other countries in the field “to utilise outer space and benefit mankind as a whole”.
Images released by China’s official news agency Xinhua show the lander, covered in golden foil, standing in the Sinus Iridum or Bay of Rainbows, its solar panels open to generate power. The images were transmitted live to the Beijing Aerospace Control Centre, where President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang watched the broadcast.
Ma Xingrui, chief commander of China’s lunar programme, declared the mission a “complete success” after the photographs showed the lander and rover were working.
News of the landing quickly made an impact on China’s hugely popular internet message boards, topping the list of searched items.
“Myth has become reality at this moment,” wrote one user. “Made in China has made it to the moon.” — Sapa-AFP
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