TOPIC

China’s Mars mission

Chinese scientists are bringing a converged energy beam weapon from fiction to life. Image: Lucasfilm/Disney

Recap | China’s Death Star-like weapon system, SpaceSail rivals Starlink: 6 science stories

Explore China’s cutting-edge innovations and latest scientific advancements in some of our latest science coverage.

How a Chinese spacecraft will catch Mars rock samples for journey to Earth

6

Recap | Musk casts shadow on China’s space ambitions, moon sample swap stalls and more space news

China’s Mars rover Zhurong finds evidence of ancient ocean on red planet

Data from Tianwen-1 mission offers clues about coastline of short-lived sea on Martian surface around 3.5 billion years ago, researchers say.

11
China’s Zhurong rover is part of the country’s Tianwen-1 mission to Mars. Photo: EPA-EFE

China scientists develop space battery that can run on Mars’ atmosphere: paper

The lightweight, rechargeable battery’s design means it operates like a fuel cell and can handle the extreme Martian temperatures.

videocam
13

China sets 2028 date for historic Mars mission – as US plan left in limbo

In the race for the red planet, China has taken the lead, with its Tianwen-3 mission launch date brought forward two years.

videocam
66
Advertisement
Advertisement

Opinion | It’s not rocket science: Hong Kong needs to jump on Chinese space bandwagon

Top-tier cities in mainland China are planning to foster commercial space ecosystems of their own. Mainland NewSpace companies are keen to connect to the world through Hong Kong. The city’s government should take note.

videocam
A image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on March 2 shows Shenzhou-17 astronaut Tang Hongbo performing extravehicular activities. Photo: Xinhua

China’s Mars sample return mission ‘progressing smoothly’ while Nasa struggles

NPC deputy and spacecraft designer Sun Zezhou says key technologies needed for Tianwen-3 mission are ‘in place’ while the US Mars Sample Return programme is battling soaring costs.

videocam
44

Evidence of water on Mars found by China’s Zhu Rong rover

China’s space plans: Moon, Mars, Jupiter

40:36

China unveils global maps of Mars based on Tianwen-1 orbiter photos

The colour-coded maps will add to our knowledge of the red planet and improve planning for future missions, says Chinese space agency.

10
Tianwen-1 lifted off from the southern island province of Hainan in July 2020, marking the beginning of China’s first interplanetary mission. Photo: Xinhua

Chinese scientists scramble to wake Mars rover, plan to send probe: sources

China still waiting for signal from Zhurong, which was supposed to power on after sleeping through red planet’s sandstorm season.

videocam
7

China hopes rocket to send people to the moon will be ready by 2027

The head of the country’s biggest space contractor says the rocket will be able to carry a lunar orbiter and lander for a three-person mission.

videocam

Nasa’s new rover an imitation of China’s Mars robot, scientists say

The US has long accused China of stealing space technology, but Artemis programme’s VIPER appears to borrow from Chinese rover Zhu Rong, which features caterpillar-inspired suspension system.

videocam
17
China’s Zhu Rong rover has been roaming the red planet for more than a year. Photo: Xinhua

Chinese radar study lends weight to theory of ancient ocean on Mars

Using a ground-penetrating radar on the Zhu Rong rover, scientists found a layer of rocks likely to be sediment from a catastrophic flood 3 billion years ago.

videocam
4
China’s Mars rover Zhu Rong touched down on Utopia Planitia, a large basin in the northern plains, in 2021. It is currently hibernating through the harsh Martian winter and dust storms. Photo: EPA-EFE/China National Space Administration

It’s a wrap for China Mars mission, but rover and orbiter still good to go

China’s space agency marks completion of Tianwen-1 mission with new photos of red planet volcano and polar cap.

videocam

China on track to retrieve Martian rocks by 2031, says mission designer

China’s timeline is two years ahead of a US-European planned Mars mission to return samples to Earth for laboratory testing, according to Sun Zezhou.

videocam
Advertisement
Advertisement

China’s rover finds evidence of water on Mars more recently than thought

Current geological age has been seen as a time when the planet was cold and dry, but scientists say their analysis of data from the rover suggests a more active surface hydrosphere in this period.

videocam
5
Evidence of water has been found in mineral samples from 700 million years ago collected by China’s Mars rover. Photo: China National Space Administration via Xinhua

China’s Mars rover ‘selfies’ suggest dust storms on red planet

Researchers studying Zhu Rong data point to valuable inputs on ‘habitability evolution of Mars’.

videocam

China’s Tianwen-1 orbiter uses ‘selfie stick’ to capture ice caps on Mars

Space agency publishes videos of its spacecraft against backdrop of polar caps made from a mixture of frozen carbon dioxide and water.

videocam
4

China’s Tianwen-1 sends Mars images

02:14

China’s Tianwen-1 sends back pictures from orbit around Mars

Images show the ice caps on the north pole of the red planet as one of the country’s most ambitious space missions continues.

videocam
22
The Tianwen-1 orbiter seen orbiting above Mars. Photo: Xinhua

From ISS rival to sea rocket launcher: 4 Chinese space targets for 2022

China has big ambitions relating to the moon and Mars projects for 2022 and it has six launches planned to expand the Tiangong space station.

videocam
5

Michio Kaku on aliens, the space race and hypersonic weapons

China's historic Mars mission

03:08

China’s Mars camp on Earth

01:56

Letters | Why China needs to get its spin on

While it may not be trendy now to be a panda-hugger, not many countries are willing to blindly trust the uncertain leadership of the United States either. China has to work on a much better coordinated and proactive PR strategy to change perceptions.

videocam

China’s Mars probe sends back first images

Advertisement
Advertisement
Help preserve 120 years of quality journalism.
SUPPORT NOW
China’s Mars mission
The latest news, analysis and opinion on China’s Mars mission. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
last updated:
9 September, 2024
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement