BRRR! IT'S TOO COLD!

It's struggling to stay alive. Unable to move, it suffers from chills in the bitter, unforgiving cold. There is not enough insulation to keep it warm and hopes are fading that it might die soon. Poor rabbit.

But don't worry- this rabbit is not in pain. This rabbit lives on the moon and is made of mechanical parts. It is the Jade Rabbit moon rover that China sent to the moon in December 2013. Jade Rabbit's job is to explore the surface of the moon and send information and images back to Earth.

While Jade Rabbit is still able to transmit data, it is unable to move after its wheels broke down. Solar panels that are supposed to insulate it from the bitter cold don't work anymore. The rover turns dormant and stops sending signals during the lunar night. Lunar nights are two-week periods when the part of the moon's surface where Jade Rabbit is rotates away from the Sun and temperatures plunge to extreme lows.

Much to China's dismay, Jade Rabbit had actually stopped working on January 25. The Chinese, who had been so excited about and proud of this space mission, were greatly saddened when it did not respond for many days. But to China's relief, Jade Rabbit woke up again in mid-February and started sending signals again.

To read our earlier story about Jade Rabbit's planned journey to the moon, click right here!