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China successfully launches interplanetary mission to Mars with rover in tow

China successfully launches interplanetary mission to Mars with rover in tow China's first major mission to Mars: Tianwen-1 Tianwen-1 contains an orbiter, lander & rover …launched on Long March 5 from Wenchang The orbiter will map and image Mars from above. If the rover and lander survive their landing, the lander will…

Author Greg Gillinger Published January 1, 2020

China successfully launches interplanetary mission to Mars with rover in tow

  • China’s first major mission to Mars: Tianwen-1
  • Tianwen-1 contains an orbiter, lander & rover…launched on Long March 5 from Wenchang
  • The orbiter will map and image Mars from above.
  • If the rover and lander survive their landing, the lander will act as a delivery platform and provide a ramp for the rover to roll away and traverse the Martian terrain.

This is one of THREE separate Mars expeditions launched this month (UAE and the USA being the others). July 2020 provides optimal orbital conditions for sending probes from Earth to Mars. These conditions persist for 1-2 months and only occur every 2 years. If China’s landing is successful, it will have pulled off a feat that only NASA has mastered, elevating the nation into an elite tier of the global space community.

Tianwen-1 Mars rover and lander concept.

Tianwen-1 Mars rover and lander concept.