China launched an unmanned mission to Mars on Thursday morning. If the lander successfully lands on the surface, China will be the third country to ever reach the red planet. The United States and the Soviet Union preceded Beijing.
The Tianwen-1 mission consists of both a satellite and a rover lander. A rover is a vehicle that can drive over the surface.
With the mission, China will conduct research into the atmosphere and traces of life, among other things. It will also study and map the structure of the Martian surface. It will take at least six months before the mission reaches the planet.
Unlike other countries, China often keeps the date and time of launches secret. There are also hardly any live images and little information is known about the mission and its purpose. Videos will not appear until a launch is successful and Beijing has not lost face.
Also the US and UAE this month to Mars
China is not the only country to send a mission to Mars this month. The US wants to make an attempt at the end of July. With the Perseverance rover, the American space agency NASA wants to investigate traces of life, including what the Tianwen-1 does.
The United Arab Emirates already preceded China and the US this month. The country successfully launched the Hope satellite to the red planet on Sunday, July 19, making it the first Arab country to ever send a mission to another planet.
That there this month three launches being planned is no accident; Mars is in a favorable position with respect to Earth during this period, and that only happens once every 26 months.
Although Russia and the US are the real superpowers in space, China has invested heavily in space in recent years. In early 2019, Beijing achieved a big victory by landing first on the so-called back of the moon. India, the United Arab Emirates and Brazil also have ambitious space programs.
–
