中国月球车月背留脚印 China's new lunar rover leaves first 'footprint' on moon's far side

China's lunar rover(巡视器 xúnshì qì), Jade Rabbit-2(玉兔二号 yùtù èr hào), left the first ever "footprint(脚印 jiǎoyìn)" from a human(人类的 rénlèi de) spacecraft(航天器 hángtiān qì) on the far side of the moon late at night on Thursday, after it separated(分离 fēnlí) from the lander(着陆器 zhuólù qì) smoothly.

China's lunar rover, Yutu-2, or Jade Rabbit-2, left the first ever "footprint" from a human spacecraft on the far side of the moon late at night on Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019, after it separated from the lander smoothly.[Photo: clep.org.cn]

The rover touched the lunar surface at 10:22 p.m. on Thursday, leaving a trace on the loose lunar soil(土壤 tǔrǎng). The process was recorded by the camera on the lander and the images(影像 yǐngxiàng) were sent back to the Earth via the relay satellite "Queqiao(鹊桥 quèqiáo)", the China National Space Administration (CNSA) announced.

Launched on Dec. 8, 2018, China's Chang'e-4 lunar probe(探测器 tàncè qì), comprising a lander and a rover, landed on the far side of the moon on Thursday morning.

Since the moon's revolution(公转 gōngzhuàn) cycle is the same as its rotation(自转 zìzhuǎn) cycle, the same side always faces the Earth. The other side, most of which cannot be seen from the Earth, is called the far side or dark side because most of it is uncharted.

重点词汇 Key word:

月 <名词 n.>

• Moon
  E.g. Wān wān de yuè er, xiǎo xiǎo de chuán.
  弯弯的月儿,小小的船。
  The sickle moon rose like a small boat.

• Month
  E.g. Tā huáiyùn yǐ 8 gè yuè.
  她怀孕已8个月。
  She is in her eight month.

• Monthly
  E.g. Tā yuèxīn 8000 yuán.
  她月薪8000元。
  She is on a salary of 8000 yuan.