# Yutu

> Chinese lunar rover

**Wikidata**: [Q15273284](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q15273284)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yutu_(rover))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/yutu

## Summary
Yutu is a Chinese lunar rover and part of the Chang'e 3 lunar exploration mission operated by the China National Space Administration (CNSA). Launched on December 1, 2013, it successfully landed in the Mare Imbrium on the Moon on December 14, 2013. The rover, also known as "Jade Rabbit," conducted surface operations and traversed 114.8 meters before signal loss occurred on July 31, 2016.

## Key Facts
*   **Classification:** Lunar rover (space exploration vehicle).
*   **Operator:** China National Space Administration (CNSA).
*   **Mission:** Part of the Chang'e 3 mission and the Chinese Lunar Exploration Program.
*   **Launch Date:** December 1, 2013, at 17:30:00, launched from Xichang Satellite Launch Center.
*   **Launch Vehicle:** Long March 3B (Y23).
*   **Landing Date:** December 14, 2013, at 13:11.
*   **Landing Location:** Mare Imbrium (coordinates: 44.1208, -19.5122; quad LQ04).
*   **Dimensions:** Length of 1.5 metres.
*   **Mass:** 140 kilograms (landing weight); Payload mass of 20 kilograms.
*   **Operational End:** Loss of signal occurred on July 31, 2016.
*   **Naming:** Named after the "Moon rabbit" (Yutu) of Chinese folklore.

## FAQs
### Q: What was the Yutu rover's mission?
A: Yutu was the robotic rover component of the Chang'e 3 mission, designed to explore the lunar surface. It was operated by the China National Space Administration to conduct surface exploration in the Mare Imbrium.

### Q: When did Yutu land on the Moon?
A: Yutu landed on the Moon on December 14, 2013, at 13:11 UTC. It had launched less than two weeks earlier on December 1, 2013.

### Q: How far did the Yutu rover travel?
A: During its surface exploration, which began on December 15, 2013, the rover traveled a total distance of 114.8 meters across the Mare Imbrium.

## Why It Matters
Yutu represents a pivotal achievement for the Chinese Lunar Exploration Program, marking China's first successful deployment of a robotic rover on an extraterrestrial body. As part of the Chang'e 3 mission, it demonstrated critical technologies in soft-landing and autonomous surface navigation. The rover's successful deployment and operation provided valuable data regarding the lunar surface.

Operating in the Mare Imbrium, Yutu contributed to humanity's understanding of the Moon by utilizing its 20 kg payload of scientific instruments. Although the mission concluded with a loss of signal in July 2016, the rover's ability to traverse 114.8 meters and transmit data back to Earth validated the engineering capabilities of the China National Space Administration. This mission laid the groundwork for future exploratory endeavors and established China as a significant participant in the field of lunar exploration.

## Notable For
*   **First Chinese Lunar Rover:** Served as the inaugural rover for the Chinese Lunar Exploration Program under the Chang'e 3 mission.
*   **Mare Imbrium Landing:** Successfully landed and operated in the Mare Imbrium region (LQ04 quadrant).
*   **Long March 3B Deployment:** Deployed using the Long March 3B orbital carrier rocket (specifically the Y23 variant).
*   **Payload Capacity:** Carried a scientific payload mass of 20 kilograms despite a total landing weight of only 140 kilograms.
*   **Cultural Naming:** Officially named "Yutu" (Jade Rabbit) after the mythological pet of the Moon goddess Chang'e.

## Body

### Mission Profile
The Yutu rover was launched as part of the Chang'e 3 lunar exploration mission. It lifted off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center on December 1, 2013, at 17:30:00 aboard a Long March 3B (Y23) rocket. The mission achieved lunar landing on December 14, 2013, at 13:11, touching down in the Mare Imbrium. Surface exploration officially began the following day, on December 15, 2013.

### Technical Specifications
*   **Type:** Lunar rover (space exploration vehicle).
*   **Mass:** 140 kg (landing weight).
*   **Payload:** 20 kg.
*   **Dimensions:** 1.5 meters in length.
*   **Identifiers:** COSPAR ID 2013-070C; NSSDCA ID 2013-070C.

### Operational History
The rover operated on the lunar surface within the Mare Imbrium region at coordinates 44.1208°N, 19.5122°W. Over its operational lifespan, the rover traversed a distance of 114.8 meters. The mission formally ended with a loss of signal on July 31, 2016.

### Nomenclature and Aliases
The rover is named "Yutu," referencing the Moon rabbit of Chinese mythology. It is also known by several aliases, including Yutu-1, Change3Rover, Chang'e 3 Rover, Jadehase, 玉兔号 (Yùtù-hào), and Coelho de Jade.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report
2. [Source](https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=2013-070C)
3. [Source](https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=2013-070A)
4. [Source](http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2013-12/18/c_132977079.htm)