Asia

Chinese rover powers up devices in pioneering moon mission

Associated Press
Published | Updated

In this photo provided on Jan. 4, 2019, by China National Space Administration via Xinhua News Agency, Yutu-2, China's lunar rover, leaves wheel marks after leaving the lander that touched down on the surface of the far side of the moon. China’s space agency says that all systems are go for its spacecraft and rover that have made a pioneering landing on the far side of the moon. (China National Space Administration/Xinhua News Agency via AP)

In this photo provided on Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019, by China National Space Administration via Xinhua News Agency, Yutu-2, China's lunar rover, leaves wheel marks after leaving the lander that touched down on the surface of the far side of the moon. A Chinese spacecraft on Thursday, Jan. 3, made the first-ever landing on the far side of the moon, state media said. The lunar explorer Chang'e 4 touched down at 10:26 a.m., China Central Television said in a brief announcement at the top of its noon news broadcast. (China National Space Administration/Xinhua News Agency via AP)

China's space agency says all systems are go for its spacecraft and rover that have made a pioneering landing on the far side of the moon.

The National Space Administration posted a photo on its website late Friday showing the rover stopped at a point not far from where the Chang'e 4 craft touched down the previous day.

The posting says the Jade Rabbit 2 rover had succeeded in establishing a digital transmission link with a relay satellite that sends data back to the Beijing control center. The rover's radar and panoramic camera have also been activated and are working normally.

The mission is the first to the side of the moon that faces away from Earth. Previous moon landings have been on the near side.