Twelve years ago today, China’s lunar exploration program took a historic leap: on December 14, 2013, the Chang’e-3 spacecraft successfully soft-landed on the Moon and deployed China’s first lunar rover, Yutu (Jade Rabbit). This achievement made China the third country—after the United States and the Soviet Union—to accomplish a soft landing on the lunar surface, marking its entry into the ranks of deep-space exploration powers.Named after the mythical rabbit companion of the Moon goddess Chang’e in Chinese folklore, Yutu weighed about 140 kilograms and carried scientific instruments including panoramic cameras, an infrared imaging spectrometer, and a lunar penetrating radar. Its mission was to systematically study the Moon’s surface morphology, geological structure, and soil composition. Although designed for a three-month operational lifespan, Yutu encountered mechanical issues that ended its mission prematurely. Nevertheless, it exceeded expectations by transmitting a wealth of high-resolution images and valuable scientific data.Yutu’s success not only advanced China’s lunar science but also laid crucial groundwork for subsequent missions like Chang’e-4—the first-ever soft landing on the lunar far side—and Chang’e-5, which returned lunar samples to Earth. Twelve years on, though Yutu now rests silently under lunar dust, its legacy continues to inspire China’s ongoing journey deeper into space.
12年前的今天，中国探月工程迈出历史性一步——2013年12月14日，嫦娥三号探测器成功着陆月球，随后释放出中国首辆月球车“玉兔号”。这是继美国和苏联之后，人类第三个实现月面软着陆的国家，标志着中国正式加入深空探测强国行列。“玉兔号”以中国古代神话中嫦娥的伙伴命名，重约140公斤，配备全景相机、红外成像光谱仪、测月雷达等多种科学载荷，旨在对月球表面形貌、地质结构及月壤成分进行系统探测。尽管原计划运行3个月，玉兔号因机械故障提前结束任务，但它仍超预期完成了大量科学数据采集，并传回了大量高分辨率图像。玉兔号的成功不仅推动了我国月球科学研究的发展，也为后续嫦娥四号（实现人类首次月背软着陆）、嫦娥五号（月面采样返回）等任务奠定了坚实基础。12年过去，“玉兔”的足迹虽已静默于月尘之中，但其象征的探索精神仍在激励着中国航天不断迈向更远的星辰大海。
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