Moon rover Yutu can't walk, but scientists not giving up

China's first moon rover Yutu (Jade Rabbit) still can't walk, but its "mind, mouth and heart" are functioning normally, the Chengdu Business Daily said, citing the deputy chief designer of the country's lunar exploration project.

The moon rover's designer Yu Dengyun said Yutu had entered its fourth dormancy on March 24, with mechanical control issues still unresolved. "The problem is with its legs," he said.

Although it has survived its design life of three months, Yu said they wouldn't give up as long asYutu functions, and that they continued to analyze control issues.

Yu said the rover is less than 20 meters to the southwest of the lander, and that they can photograph and communicate with each other.

Yutu still sends back useful data and photos, he said. The process will be repeated, wakening Yutu and putting it to work and then letting it rest, until it loses all functions, Yu added.

Yutu will be wakened around April 10, he explained, as its dormancy needs a little more time.

There is the possibility that it will cure itself, Yu said, but there is little hope.