China's moon rover Jade Rabbit says farewell

By Madison Park, CNN

Updated 0802 GMT (1602 HKT) August 4, 2016

China has released hundreds of high-resolution photos taken by its Chang'e-3 lunar lander and rover. The rover, known as the "Jade Rabbit," is pictured here on the moon's surface.
Photos: Photos offer fresh view of moon's surface
China has released hundreds of high-resolution photos taken by its Chang'e-3 lunar lander and rover. The rover, known as the "Jade Rabbit," is pictured here on the moon's surface.
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A close-up of the jade rabbit taken by the Chang'e-3 lander's terrain camera.
Photos: Photos offer fresh view of moon's surface
A close-up of the jade rabbit taken by the Chang'e-3 lander's terrain camera.
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A shot of the Chang'e-3 lander taken by the jade rabbit's panoramic camera.
Photos: Photos offer fresh view of moon's surface
A shot of the Chang'e-3 lander taken by the jade rabbit's panoramic camera.
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The tracks of the Jade Rabbit lunar rover, with the Chang'e 3 spacecraft in the background.
Photos: Photos offer fresh view of moon's surface
The tracks of the Jade Rabbit lunar rover, with the Chang'e 3 spacecraft in the background.
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A 360° composite view of the Chang'e-3 lander and its surroundings.
Photos: Photos offer fresh view of moon's surface
A 360° composite view of the Chang'e-3 lander and its surroundings.
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A view of the Earth taken from the moon.
Photos: Photos offer fresh view of moon's surface
A view of the Earth taken from the moon.
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Rocks on the moon's surface captured by the Jade Rabbit lunar rover.
Photos: Photos offer fresh view of moon's surface
Rocks on the moon's surface captured by the Jade Rabbit lunar rover.
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Story highlights

  • China's popular moon rover has stopped operations, China's science agency says
  • It functioned 972 days on the moon

(CNN)Farewell, Jade Rabbit and thanks for the memories. Fans of China's first unmanned lunar rover, which had an active social media presence, said their goodbyes this week.

The probe, known as the Yutu, or Jade Rabbit, ceased operations after 972 days of service on the moon, reported Xinhua, the Chinese state-run news agency, citing China's State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense.
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    Its Weibo account posted a final message: "Hi! This could be the last greetings from me!"
      "The moon says it has prepared a long, long dream for me, and I'm wondering what the dream would be like-- would I be a mars explorer, or be sent back to earth?"
      Its first-person Weibo account charmed fans since landing on the moon as part of the Chang'e-3 lunar mission in 2013. The landing made China the third nation after the United States and Russia to land on the moon's surface.