CNSA - Tianwen-1 (天問-1) Mission to Mars logo.
May 22, 2021
Zhurong is roving on Mars!
Zhurong, the Tianwen-1 mission’s rover, has descended from the landing platform to the surface of Mars, in the Utopia Planitia region, on 22 May 2021, at 02:40 UTC (10:40 China Standard Time). Tianwen-1 (天问一号) is China’s first Mars exploration mission with an orbiter, a lander and a rover. Zhurong (祝融), named after the god of fire in ancient Chinese mythology, has a mass of 240 kg and an expected lifespan of at least 90 Martian days.
Zhurong (祝融) rover and landing platform (Artist's view)
Chinese rover Zhurong begins exploration of red planet
Chinese rover Zhurong left its Mars landing pad a week after arriving on Saturday to begin exploring the surface of the Red Planet, the official China New Agency reported. The sending of this robot to Mars is a first for the Asian country, which has become the second in the world to succeed in such an operation after the United States.
Zhurong front obstacle avoidance camera B view
China had launched in July 2020 from Earth its uninhabited Tianwen-1 mission, named after the probe sent into space and composed of an orbiter (which revolves around Mars) and a lander with Zhurong on board which landed last Saturday in an area of the red planet called Utopia Planitia, a vast plain in the northern hemisphere of Mars.
Zhurong rear obstacle avoidance camera A view
First images sent
At around 240 kg, Zhurong (祝融) - named after the fire god in Chinese mythology - sent his first photos on Wednesday. He must also conduct analyzes of the soil, the atmosphere and map the red planet. Zhurong is equipped with solar panels for its power supply and is supposed to be operational for three months.
First images of Zhurong on Mars
The rover is also equipped with cameras, radar and lasers which will allow it, among other things, to study its environment and analyze the composition of Martian rocks. The mission to Mars must also look for possible signs of past life.
Zhurong (祝融) rover (Artist's view)
By successfully landing its robot on Mars, China, which is investing billions of euros in its space program to catch up with Europe, Russia and the United States, is demonstrating its growing space ambitions. It sent its first astronaut into space in 2003 and launches satellites for itself or on behalf of other countries. In 2019, she landed a rover on the far side of the moon - a world first. Last year, samples were brought back to Earth.
Related articles:
Why the China Mars rover’s landing site has geologists excited & Zhurong’s first images from Mars
https://orbiterchspacenews.blogspot.com/2021/05/why-china-mars-rovers-landing-site-has.html
Tianwen-1 orbiter relays Zhurong rover’s data and images
https://orbiterchspacenews.blogspot.com/2021/05/tianwen-1-orbiter-relays-zhurong-rovers.html
Zhurong landed on Mars! The Tianwen-1 rover is on Utopia Planitia (Videos)
https://orbiterchspacenews.blogspot.com/2021/05/zhurong-landed-on-mars-tianwen-1-rover.html
China succeeds in landing its rover on Mars
https://orbiterchspacenews.blogspot.com/2021/05/china-succeeds-in-landing-its-rover-on.html
For more information about China National Space Administration (CNSA), visit: http://www.cnsa.gov.cn/
Images, Video, Text, Credits: China Central Television (CCTV)/China National Space Administration (CNSA)/SciNews/AFP/Orbiter.ch Aerospace/Roland Berga.
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