“Tianwen-1 Mission” – China lands Zhurong Rover on Mars

What is the News? 

China successfully lands Zhurong Rover from the Tianwen-1 mission on Mars. Specifically, it has landed on the Utopia Planitia, a large plain in the Northern Hemisphere of Mars.

Note: The Zhurong rover has been named after an ancient Chinese god of fire. It will explore the Mars surface near the landing site.

Significance:

• Firstly, with the successful landing, China became the third nation to achieve a successful soft landing on Mars after the Soviet Union and the United States.
• Secondly, with the successful deployment of the rover on Mars, China becomes the only second country after the US to send a rover to the surface of Mars.
• Thirdly, China has also become the 1st country to carry out an orbiting, landing, and roving operation during its first mission to Mars.

 About Tianwen-1 Mission:

• Tianwen-1 is an interplanetary mission by the China National Space Administration(CNSA).
• Aim: It aims to send a robotic spacecraft to Mars consisting of an orbiter, deployable camera, lander, and the Zhurong rover.
• Launched Year: The mission was successfully launched from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in July 2020 on a Long March 5 heavy-lift launch vehicle.
• Objectives of the mission: The scientific objectives of the mission are to study the:
  • Geology of Mars
  • Current and past presence of water
  • Internal structure of the planet
  • Identification of minerals and rock types on the surface as well as
  • Characterisation of the space environment and atmosphere of Mars.

Source: Indian Express

“Zhurong” – China’s first Mars rover