Luna 17 launched 1970

Luna 17, launched November 10, 1970, delivered Lunokhod 1, the first robotic rover to the moon.  The spacecraft reached the moon November 15 and landed on Nov 17.  Lunokhod 1 had eight wheels that could be controlled independently and could travel up to 100 m/hr or about 0.062 mph.  

During its mission, it traveled 10.5 km, returned over 20,000 images, and performed 25 soil samples.  The last communication with Lunokhod 1 occurred on September 14, 1971.  On October 4, attempts to reestablish contact ceased.

China launches Tianwen-1 to Mars today!

The China National Space Administration launched Tianwen-1, a robotic mission to Mars, earlier today!  The name Tianwen means "Heavenly Questions" or "Questions to Heaven".

After a failed partnership with Russia in 2011, China began their own project which culminated in the launch today.  The spacecraft consists of an orbiter and a lander with a rover.  The lander will use a parachute, retrorockets and an airbag to land on the surface of Mars.  The lander will release a rover.

It should enter orbit around Mars in February 2021, and the lander should touch down in April.

Lunokhod 2 rover begins exploration of the moon 1973

Lunakhod 2, launched in Luna 21, landed on the moon and began its exploration January 16, 1973.  It landed the day before.  The rover ran during the day and recharged its batteries with solar panels, and then hibernated at night, heated by a radioactive source.

It operated for four months until May and covered 23 miles before it fell into a crater and was covered with dust. 

NASA rover Opportunity has completed its mission

The little rover that could, Opportunity, has reached the end of its record-setting mission.  Launched in July 2003, Opportunity was meant to last only three months and travel only about 1000 meters, but it exceeded its life expectancy and went for almost 15 years.  It traveled more than 28 miles.  It made its way into Perseverance Valley, its final resting place. 

It set a one-day Mars driving record by traveling 721 feet and returned more than 217,000 images.  Opportunity got trapped in a sand ripple but NASA managed to free it by putting in reverse and gunning it. 

Last year, a planet-wide dust storm passed over it.  Before the storm, Opportunity signaled that its batteries were running low.  Afterwards, NASA tried a thousand commands to restore contact but to no avail.  Its last communication was received June 10.

China launches Chang’e 4 Lunar Rover 2018

The next step in lunar exploration blasted off from China's Xichang Satellite Launch Center, December 7, 2018.  The China National Space Administration successfully launched Chang'e 4 to the moon.  The space probe consists of a lander and a rover, expected to land on the far side of the moon January 3, 2019.

Since communications from the other side of the moon are impossible, Chang'e 4 will use a communications relay satellite about 65,000 km from its landing site, to keep in constant contact with Earth.

I'll keep you posted.

JAXA's MINERVA II 1 has released its rovers to Ryugu

Asteroid Ryugu from MINERVA II 1

Just a few hours ago, the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) confirmed that the MINERVA II 1( Micro-Nano Experimental Robot Vehicle for the Asteroid) has released its two rovers, ROVER-1A and ROVER-1B to explore the Near-Earth Object/Asteroid Ryugu. 

Contact has been lost with MINERVA but JAXA figures it is due  to the rotation of the asteroid.  Hopefully, they will re-establish contact soon.