A 2-year locomotive exploration and scientific investigation of the lunar farside by the Yutu-2 rover

• DOI: 10.1126/scirobotics.abj6660
• Publication Date: 2022-01-19T19:00:35Z
• Authors: L. Ding; R. Zhou; Y. Yuan; H. Yang; J. Li; T. Yu; C. Liu; J. Wang; S. Li; H. Gao; Z. Deng; N. Li; Z. Wang; Z. Gong; G. Liu; J. Xie; S. Wang; Z. Rong; D. Deng; X. Wang; S. Han; W. Wan; L. Richter; L. Huang; S. Gou; Z. Liu; H. Yu; Y. Jia; B. Chen; Z. Dang; K. Zhang; L. Li; X. He; S. Liu; K. Di
• Keywords: Regolith; Lunar craters; Traverse

The lunar nearside has been investigated by many uncrewed and crewed missions, but the farside of Moon remains poorly known. Lunar exploration is challenging because maneuvering rovers with efficient locomotion in harsh extraterrestrial environment necessary to explore geological characteristics scientific interest. Chang’E-4 mission successfully targeted Moon’s deployed a teleoperated rover (Yutu-2) inside Von Kármán crater, conveying rich information regarding regolith, craters, rocks. Here, we report mobile on Yutu-2 over initial 2 years. During its journey, experienced varying degrees mild slip skid, indicating that terrain relatively flat at large scales scattered local gentle slopes. Cloddy soil sticking wheels implies greater cohesion than encountered other landing sites. Further identification results indicate regolith resembles dry sand sandy loam Earth bearing properties, demonstrating strength identified during Apollo missions. In sharp contrast sparsity rocks along traverse route, small fresh craters unilateral moldable ejecta are abundant, some them contain high-reflectance materials bottom, suggestive secondary impact events. These findings hint notable differences surface geology between nearside. Experience gained improves understanding Moon, which, return, may lead improved efficiency larger range.