China successfully launches first Mars mission

LKJ86 · Dec 15, 2020

China's Mars probe over 100 mln km away from Earth - Xinhua | English.news.cn

www.xinhuanet.com

China's Mars probe over 100 mln km away from Earth
Source: Xinhua | 2020-12-15 09:32:55 | Editor: huaxia

BEIJING, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- China's Mars probe Tianwen-1 is currently more than 100 million km away from Earth and is functioning normally, according to the China National Space Administration on Tuesday.

As of 9 p.m. on Monday (Beijing Time), the Mars probe had flown in space for 144 days and traveled more than 360 million km. It was more than 100 million km away from Earth and about 12 million km away from Mars.

The Mars probe will likely be about 190 million km away from Earth when it reaches the vicinity of Mars.

Since it was launched on July 23, the Mars probe has captured an image of both Earth and the moon and taken selfies. It has carried out three orbital corrections, a deep-space maneuver and self-checks on multiple payloads.

It will conduct several orbital corrections and will likely decelerate to enter the Mars orbit in mid-February next year, according to the administration.

LKJ86 · Jan 4, 2021

China's Tianwen-1 Mars Probe to Execute Brake
China's Mars probe Tianwen-1 is going to execute "brake" in around February 10, that is, it will slow down to be captured by the Mars to become its satellite, according to the China National Space

LKJ86 · Jan 5, 2021

China Focus: 400 mln km within 163 days, China's Mars probe heads for red planet - Xinhua | English.news.cn

www.xinhuanet.com

China Focus: 400 mln km within 163 days, China's Mars probe heads for red planet
Source: Xinhua | 2021-01-03 12:30:08 | Editor: huaxia

BEIJING, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- China's Mars probe Tianwen-1 has traveled more than 400 million km by Sunday morning and is expected to enter Mars orbit next month, according to the China National Space Administration (CNSA).

As of 6 a.m. on Sunday (Beijing Time), the Mars probe had flown in space for 163 days. It was about 130 million km from Earth and about 8.3 million km from Mars.

According to the CNSA, the probe is functioning stably and is scheduled to slow down before entering Mars orbit in more than a month and preparing itself to land on the red planet.

Since its launch on July 23, 2020, the Mars probe has captured an image showing both Earth and the moon, as well as taking several selfies. It has carried out three orbital corrections, a deep-space maneuver and self-checks on multiple payloads.

Tianwen-1 probe, weighing about five tonnes, consists of an orbiter, a lander and a rover. It is designed to complete orbiting, landing and roving in one mission.

After entering the Mars orbit, it will spend two to three months surveying potential landing sites, using a high-resolution camera to prepare for the landing in May.

The most challenging part of the mission will be the soft landing, an autonomous process of the probe lasting seven to eight minutes. The probe will use its aerodynamic shape, parachute and retrorocket to decelerate and buffer legs to touch down.

After the landing, the rover will be released to conduct scientific exploration with an expected lifespan of at least 90 Martian days (about three months on Earth), and the orbiter, with a design life of one Martian year (about 687 days on Earth), will relay communications for the rover while conducting its own scientific detection.

Tianwen-1 means Questions to Heaven and comes from a poem written by Qu Yuan (about 340-278 BC), one of the greatest poets of ancient China. The name signifies the Chinese nation's perseverance in pursuing truth and science and exploring nature and the universe, according to the CNSA.

LKJ86 · Feb 5, 2021

Beast · Feb 5, 2021

Looks like the probe is not far from mars.

qwerrty · Feb 5, 2021

LKJ86 · Feb 5, 2021

LKJ86 said:
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China's Mars probe completes fourth orbital correction - Xinhua | English.news.cn

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China's Mars probe completes fourth orbital correction
Source: Xinhua | 2021-02-05 21:34:22 | Editor: huaxia

BEIJING, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- China's Mars probe Tianwen-1 conducted its fourth orbital correction Friday night, according to the China National Space Administration (CNSA).

The probe carried out the orbital correction at 8 p.m. (Beijing time), aiming to ensure that the probe achieves a sound planned rendezvous with Mars.

The CNSA also said the probe had captured the first image of Mars from a distance of 2.2 million km.

Launched on July 23, 2020, the probe completed its first orbital correction on Aug. 2, its second on Sept. 20 and its third on Oct. 28.

The probe has traveled about 197 days in orbit, flying about 465 million km. It is currently 184 million km from Earth and 1.1 million km from Mars. All probe systems are in good working condition, the CNSA said.

LKJ86 · Feb 6, 2021

LKJ86 said:
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China Focus: China's Mars probe captures first image of Mars - Xinhua | English.news.cn

www.xinhuanet.com

China Focus: China's Mars probe captures first image of Mars
Source: Xinhua | 2021-02-05 22:36:12 | Editor: huaxia

BEIJING, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- The China National Space Administration (CNSA) on Friday released the first image of Mars captured by the country's Mars probe Tianwen-1.

The image was captured from a distance of 2.2 million km from Mars, said the CNSA.

The probe conducted its fourth orbital correction on Friday at 8 p.m. (Beijing time), aiming to ensure that the probe achieves a sound planned rendezvous with Mars.

The probe has traveled about 197 days in orbit, flying about 465 million km. It is currently 184 million km from Earth and 1.1 million km from Mars. All probe systems are in good working condition, the CNSA said.

China launched the Mars probe on July 23, 2020. It was designed to complete orbiting, landing and roving in one mission.

The probe completed its first orbital correction on Aug. 2, its second on Sept. 20 and its third on Oct. 28.