Xinhuanet

China unveils Mars probe, rover for ambitious 2020 mission

Source: Xinhua 2016-08-24 01:04:33

CHINA-BEIJING-MARS ROVER(CN)

Picture released on Aug. 23, 2016 by lunar probe and space project center of Chinese State Adiministration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence shows the concept portraying what the Mars rover and lander would look like. Image of China's Mars probe was also released Tuesday. (Xinhua)

BEIJING, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- China on Tuesday released images of a Mars probe and rover which the country plans to send to the Red Planet within five years.

China plans to send a spacecraft to orbit Mars, make a landing, and deploy a rover in July or August 2020, said Zhang Rongqiao, chief architect of the Mars mission at a press conference in Beijing. "The challenges we face are unprecedented."

According to Ye Peijian, one of China's leading aerospace experts and a consultant to the program, the 2020 mission will be launched on a Long March-5 carrier rocket from the Wenchang space launch center in south China's Hainan province.

The lander will separate from the orbiter at the end of a journey of around seven months and touch down in a low latitude area in the northern hemisphere of Mars where the rover will explore the surface.

Images displayed at Tuesday's press conference showed a device with six wheels, powered by four solar panels, two more than the rover sent to the moon.

Weighing around 200 kilograms, it is designed to operate for three Martian months, according to Sun Zezhou, chief designer of the probe.

The probe, for its part, will carry 13 payloads including a remote sensing camera and a ground penetrating radar which could be used to study the soil, environment, and atmosphere of Mars, as well as the planet's physical fields, the distribution of water and ice, and its inner structure.

A public competition for the name and the logo of the 2020 mission was also launched Tuesday.

   1 2 3 >>  

 
China unveils Mars probe, rover for ambitious 2020 mission
                 Source: Xinhua | 2016-08-24 01:04:33 | Editor: huaxia

CHINA-BEIJING-MARS ROVER(CN)

Picture released on Aug. 23, 2016 by lunar probe and space project center of Chinese State Adiministration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence shows the concept portraying what the Mars rover and lander would look like. Image of China's Mars probe was also released Tuesday. (Xinhua)

BEIJING, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- China on Tuesday released images of a Mars probe and rover which the country plans to send to the Red Planet within five years.

China plans to send a spacecraft to orbit Mars, make a landing, and deploy a rover in July or August 2020, said Zhang Rongqiao, chief architect of the Mars mission at a press conference in Beijing. "The challenges we face are unprecedented."

According to Ye Peijian, one of China's leading aerospace experts and a consultant to the program, the 2020 mission will be launched on a Long March-5 carrier rocket from the Wenchang space launch center in south China's Hainan province.

The lander will separate from the orbiter at the end of a journey of around seven months and touch down in a low latitude area in the northern hemisphere of Mars where the rover will explore the surface.

Images displayed at Tuesday's press conference showed a device with six wheels, powered by four solar panels, two more than the rover sent to the moon.

Weighing around 200 kilograms, it is designed to operate for three Martian months, according to Sun Zezhou, chief designer of the probe.

The probe, for its part, will carry 13 payloads including a remote sensing camera and a ground penetrating radar which could be used to study the soil, environment, and atmosphere of Mars, as well as the planet's physical fields, the distribution of water and ice, and its inner structure.

A public competition for the name and the logo of the 2020 mission was also launched Tuesday.

   1 2 3   

分享
China prepares for new round of manned space missions
Scientists say China in leading position in space technology
Russia mulls reduction of Int'l Space Station personnel: NASA
U.S. spacewalkers successfully install commercial crew port at space station
Vice premier presents trophies to winners of 10th Special Book Award of China
Vice premier presents trophies to winners of 10th Special Book Award of China
Qiangba Puncog meets delegation of EU-China Friendship Group in Beijing
Qiangba Puncog meets delegation of EU-China Friendship Group in Beijing
Scenery of Penglai in east China's Shandong Province
Scenery of Penglai in east China's Shandong Province
Emergency rescue drill held at sea area in S China's Sanya
Emergency rescue drill held at sea area in S China's Sanya
Mutahida Qaumi Party's headquarters sealed by Pakistan
Mutahida Qaumi Party's headquarters sealed by Pakistan
2 cargo vessel capsize in Myanmar river, no casualties
2 cargo vessel capsize in Myanmar river, no casualties
Afghan refugees return from Pakistan gets momentum
Afghan refugees return from Pakistan gets momentum
Tribute messages written to mourn late Singapore's ex-President Nathan
Tribute messages written to mourn late Singapore's ex-President Nathan
Back to Top Close
010020070750000000000000011100001356278281