China\u2019s moon rover, known as Jade Rabbit (or Yutu in Chinese), is about half way through a three-month research mission and is currently in grave peril. Named after a mythical rabbit that lives on the moon, the rover was supposed to \u201chibernate\u201d during the lunar night, which is actually a period of 14 days where temperatures can fall to -180. If the rover doesn\u2019t go into this hibernation mode it will in essence, freeze to death. Chinese scientists are working to fix this mechanical problem but the prognosis is currently quite grim, so much so that China\u2019s state-run news, Xinhua, issued a news release written in the voice of the rover itself. This is Jade Rabbit\u2019s letter home:<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n Although I should’ve gone to bed this morning, my masters discovered something abnormal with my mechanical control system and are staying up all night working for a solution. I heard their eyes are looking more like my red rabbit eyes. It is at times like this that I miss hearing them telling me how disappointed in me they were and how I needed to work harder to make China proud. Ha, even the smell of the alcohol on my father\u2019s breath I now miss! Nevertheless, I\u2019m aware that I might not survive this lunar night.<\/p>\n