China opens first teleoperation space centre

China today opened its maiden teleoperation centre from where it can command and monitor the working conditions of its deep space mission vehicles like the lunar rover and lander.
The teleoperation centre was established at the Beijing Aerospace Control Centre (BACC), hours after the Chang'e-3 probe soft-landed on the lunar surface.
The moon rover 'Yutu' or Jade Rabbit separated from the lander early morning today.
The successful separation and soft-landing marked the formal operation of the centre, where technicians can fully control and monitor the working conditions of the rover and lander, state-run Xinhua new agency reported.
The centre provides 40 seats for operating posts ranging from commanding to route planning.

"A three-dimensional technique was used in order to more clearly know the working conditions of the moon rover," said Zhou Jianliang, chief engineer at the BACC.
Chang'e-3 landed on the moon's Sinus Iridum yesterday, establishing China as the third country in the world capable of carrying out such a rover mission after the United States and former Soviet Union.
Zhou said that commands for future deep space explorations will also be issued from the centre.