- Jonathan Amos
- BBC Science reporter
Image source, CNSA
The front photos show the flat landscape of Utopia Planitia.
China released the first images after its roving robot Zhurong landed on Mars.
Front view shows the view in front of the robot as it hovers over its landing pad.
The background image reveals Zhurong Solar Panels.
This wandering robot landed on the red planet early last Sunday according to Beijing local time.
Thus, China became the second country, after the United States, to have succeeded in placing a robot on Mars. And use it for a long time.
Chinese scientists hope for at least 90 days of Martian service from the six-wheeled robot at its location in Utopia Planitia, a vast region in the planet’s northern hemisphere.
Image source, CNSA
The background photos show the robot’s solar panels and antenna communication system.
The China National Space Administration (CNSA) posted these pictures on its website.
There are even some short videos About the moment he was in Airchel The robot, the capsule it used to enter the Martian atmosphere, exits from the orbiter Tianwen-1, the satellite that carried the robot from Earth.
Successful landing
Images from the surface indicate that the critical instrument deployments after landing were completed without hindrance.
These exercises included deploying solar panels to It powers the robot; Launch the antenna to communicate with Tianwen-1, and from now on with controllers in China; And the length of ramp that Zhurong will soon roll over to start his mobile mission.
Zhurong is very similar to the NASA Spirit and Opportunity vehicles of the 2000s.
It weighs about 240 kg. A tall mast carries cameras for Taking pictures and assisting with navigation; Five additional tools Study of local rock minerals and the general nature of the environmentAh, including the weather.
Like American explorers today (curiosity and perseverance), Zhurong has it Laser tool for Hacked Rocks and Chemistry Rating.
It also has radar for Find the water ice below the surfaceAnd it is an ability not shared by their American cousins.
Image source, CNSA
The Zhurong rover looks similar to NASA’s Spirit and Opportunity spacecraft.
Utopia Planitia is the area where NASA landed its Viking-2 mission in 1976.
It is a huge basin, more than 3000 km in diameter, formed by an impact early in the history of Mars.
Some evidence points to this And thereforeI was around a long time ago.
Satellite remote sensing indicates the existence of large deep-sea ice reserves.
Image source, Getty Images
This model shows how Zhurong will descend from his landing pad.
The United States landed the much larger persistent (1 ton) robot in February.
Europe, which has twice failed landing attempts, will send a robot named Rosalind Franklin to Mars next year, a project alongside Russia.
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