China on July 23, 2020 launched its first fully homegrown Mars mission named Tianwen-1 (formerly Huoxing 1), which means “Questions to Heaven”.
Basic Facts
Tianwen-1 was launched atop a Long March 5 rocket from Hainan Island’s Wenchang Satellite Launch Center.
The mission consists of an orbiter and a lander/rover duo, a combination of craft that had never before launched together toward the Red Planet.
Tianwen-1 will reach the Red Planet’s orbit in February 2021. The rover will land on Mars in May.
The scientific goals of the mission include studying Martian topography and geology and determining the composition of the surface material, climate and environment.
Source: Space.com and Indian Express
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