According to reports in the New York Times and The Huffington Post, the recent rover from China on the surface of the moon has discovered a new type of rock. The Chinese Yutu Lunar Rover, launched and landed on the moon in December 2013, found the new rock in the dark spot known as Mare Imbrium in a long-dead lava flow. The report was published last Tuesday.
The newly discovered rock is a basalt and has titanium in it. The rock is also dense with a mineral known as ilmenite, which holds the titanium. The mineral has been found in other rocks, but the levels of ilmenite are at intermediate levels as opposed to the low and high levels found in rocks brought back during the Apollo missions in the 70s.
The rover is the first space mission to land on the moon since the Apollo missions ended in the late 70s. The Chinese are trying to explore areas that were not already visited by astronauts during those missions. Scientists are trying to learn more about how earth’s nearest neighbor was formed.
Although the rover landed on the surface of the moon using a soft-landing method, problems developed almost immediately. At first the rover was unable to move and could only explore rocks that were in the immediate proximity. Eventually the rover began sending back data and findings that have surprised scientists.
The scientists are attempting to discover what the surface of the moon is comprised of. They have stated, according to the Huffington Post, that the surface is much more diverse than earth.
The current mission will collect samples and a second moon mission by the Chinese will hopefully be able to return the rock and soil samples sometime in 2017.
