A photograph of the giant screen at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center shows photo of the Yutu, or “Jade Rabbit” lunar rover taken by the camera on the Chang’e 3 probe during the mutual-photograph process, in Beijing December 15, 2013. REUTERS/Stringer
Earlier this week, it looked like China’s malfunctioning lunar rover might be headed for the junk pile. But the week ends with great news: “Yutu has come back to life!” spokesperson Pei Zhaoyu told a Chinese state-run news agency. The probe ” went into sleep under an abnormal status,” he added.
The rover isn’t out of the space woods yet: While normal signal reception capabilities have reportedly been restored, the cause of the initial issues remains unclear — as does whether they can be fixed. But Pei says Jade Rabbit “stands a chance of being saved now that it is still alive.”
A well-linked roundup at the Washington Post.