Newsbytes
  • India
  • Business
  • World
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Technology
  • Entertainment
  • Auto
  • Lifestyle
  • Inspirational
  • Career
  • Bengaluru
  • Delhi
  • Mumbai
  • Videos
  • Visual Stories
  • Reviews
  • Phone Reviews
  • Fitness Bands Reviews
  • Speakers Reviews
  • Find Cricket Statistics
Hindi
More
In the news
Elon Musk
Apple
OnePlus
NOTHING
Latest Laptops
Newsbytes
Hindi
Newsbytes
User Placeholder

Hi,

Logout


India
Business
World
Politics
Sports
Technology
Entertainment
Auto
Lifestyle
Inspirational
Career
Bengaluru
Delhi
Mumbai
Videos
Visual Stories
Reviews
Phone Reviews
Fitness Bands Reviews
Speakers Reviews
Find Cricket Statistics

More Links
  • Videos

Download Android App

Follow us on
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linkedin
  • Youtube
 
Home / News / Technology News / China's Tianwen-1 lander and rover successfully touchdown on Mars
Technology

China's Tianwen-1 lander and rover successfully touchdown on Mars

China's Tianwen-1 lander and rover successfully touchdown on Mars
Written by Chandraveer Mathur
May 15, 2021, 10:34 am 3 min read
China's Tianwen-1 lander and rover successfully touchdown on Mars
China successfully landed Tianwen-1 mission on Mars this week

Shortly after realizing the dream of launching its own space station, China reportedly succeeded at its attempt to land the Zhurong lander on Mars on May 14 as a part of its Tianwen-1 mission. The landing is a milestone for the daring endeavor that's a culmination of China's advances in space exploration technology. Here's everything you should know about the mission.

Ambitious mission
Tianwen mission launched around the same time as NASA's Perseverance

Interestingly, this is China's first mission to the red planet. But instead of separately sending an orbiter, lander, and then rover in that order, all three were sent at once. The Chinese National Space Administration launched the three entities around the same time as NASA's Perseverance blasted off. However, it didn't jettison the lander and instead settled into orbit waiting for the opportune moment.

Details
Lander descended to the Utopia Planitia region on May 14

On May 13, China Association for Science and Technology's Chief Advisor of Interplanetary Exploration Ye Peijian said that the lander would begin its descent at 11 pm UTC on May 14. The orbiter will reportedly continue circling Mars while the lander will deploy the rover after it touches down in an area called Utopia Planitia. The three entities will now coordinate scientific efforts.

Do you know?
Viking 2 lander reportedly found life in same landing region

NASA's Viking 2 lander had also touched down in the Utopia Planitia region in 1976. Surprisingly, a report suggested the lander had found signs of microbial life in Martian soil. NASA claims the lander made its final transmission to Earth in April 1980.

Mission objectives
Chinese rover could outlive its 90-Martian day mission

China expects its rover to operate for only 90 Martian days, but it is likely that the estimate is conservative and the rover will continue to remain operational afterward as well. Like NASA, China's rover will study surface material, hunt for ice, and examine geological formations. These objectives align with the current space race mission to find extraterrestrial life and deposits of natural resources.

Information
Successful landing marks a historic moment for China

Reuters reported that the mission's name Tianwen means "Question to Heaven". It is the name of a poem written two millennia ago. China is the world's first country to succeed on its maiden attempt to orbit, land, and deploy a rover on Mars.

Tight-lipped
China refused to share exact cost of Tianwen-1 mission

At the time of launch in July 2020, Chinese spokesman Liu Tongjie declined Reuters' request to comment on the estimated cost China incurred for the Tianwen-1 mission. However, Tongjie said that the mission was "very economical" since costs have been spread out over years since 2014. It will be interesting to watch the mission unfold given the immense scope for novel discoveries on Mars.

Share this timeline
Facebook
Whatsapp
Twitter
Linkedin
Chandraveer Mathur
Chandraveer Mathur
Mail
I am a design engineer with a knack for all things related to tech, smartphones, photography, and automobiles. When I am not tinkering with gadgets, I enjoy books, CGI, a lovingly curated audio library, and therapeutic solo drives.
Latest
Space News
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
China
Perseverance Rover
Latest
Lakhimpur Kheri: Elder sister gets minor raped, murdered by friends
Lakhimpur Kheri: Elder sister gets minor raped, murdered by friends India
US: Truck driver wins $1 million jackpot in lottery
US: Truck driver wins $1 million jackpot in lottery Lifestyle
Sensex slips 111 points, Nifty just barely holds 15,750 mark
Sensex slips 111 points, Nifty just barely holds 15,750 mark Business
Decoding the 2022 summer transfer window plans of Liverpool
Decoding the 2022 summer transfer window plans of Liverpool Sports
NASA's sun observatory observes solar eclipse in space
NASA's sun observatory observes solar eclipse in space Technology
Space News
Why are painting-like maps of Mars released by NASA important
Why are painting-like maps of Mars released by NASA important Technology
#NewsBytesExplainer: How do astronauts sleep in space at the ISS?
#NewsBytesExplainer: How do astronauts sleep in space at the ISS? Technology
Wringing wet cloth in space: Astronaut demonstrates water's fascinating property
Wringing wet cloth in space: Astronaut demonstrates water's fascinating property Technology
How this European spacecraft is mapping the Milky Way galaxy
How this European spacecraft is mapping the Milky Way galaxy Technology
NASA launches free 'Roman Space Observer' game: How to play?
NASA launches free 'Roman Space Observer' game: How to play? Technology
More News
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Riskiest asteroid known to humans won't hit Earth in 2052
Riskiest asteroid known to humans won't hit Earth in 2052 Technology
NASA's Curiosity measures organic carbon in Martian rocks
NASA's Curiosity measures organic carbon in Martian rocks Technology
Massive sunspot facing Earth doubles in size; raises serious concerns
Massive sunspot facing Earth doubles in size; raises serious concerns Technology
NASA spots 100km wide peculiar cloud forming the word "GO"
NASA spots 100km wide peculiar cloud forming the word "GO" Technology
SpaceX pulls a hat-trick, launches 3 rockets in 36 hours
SpaceX pulls a hat-trick, launches 3 rockets in 36 hours Technology
More News
China
Sri Lanka under virtual lockdown over fuel scarcity amid crisis
Sri Lanka under virtual lockdown over fuel scarcity amid crisis World
Pakistan: No textbooks for students amid severe paper crisis
Pakistan: No textbooks for students amid severe paper crisis World
India, China share common interests that outnumber differences: Chinese FM
India, China share common interests that outnumber differences: Chinese FM World
China tests technology that could harness solar power from space
China tests technology that could harness solar power from space Technology
Which IITs, IIMs have churned out most Indian unicorn founders?
Which IITs, IIMs have churned out most Indian unicorn founders? Career
More News
Perseverance Rover
NASA's Perseverance rover captures "something unexpected" and it's not Martian
NASA's Perseverance rover captures "something unexpected" and it's not Martian Technology
NASA's Ingenuity helicopter completes third long-distance flight, with fastest-yet airspeed
NASA's Ingenuity helicopter completes third long-distance flight, with fastest-yet airspeed Technology
NASA's MOXIE proof-of-concept successfully converts Martian carbon dioxide to oxygen
NASA's MOXIE proof-of-concept successfully converts Martian carbon dioxide to oxygen Technology
NASA's Ingenuity helicopter aces first test flight in Martian environment
NASA's Ingenuity helicopter aces first test flight in Martian environment Technology
NASA's Ingenuity helicopter now one step closer to first flight
NASA's Ingenuity helicopter now one step closer to first flight Technology
More News
Next News Article
Next News Article

Love Technology news?

Subscribe to stay updated.

Science Thumbnail
India News Business News World News Politics News Sports News Technology News Entertainment News Auto News Lifestyle News Inspirational News
Career News Bengaluru News Delhi News Mumbai News Mukesh Ambani Indian Premier League (IPL) Karnataka Samsung Xiaomi West Bengal
Bihar Virat Kohli Rohit Sharma Haryana Narendra Modi Arvind Kejriwal Tamil Nadu Gujarat Yogi Adityanath YouTube
Instagram Hollywood News Uttar Pradesh Kerala Netflix Bollywood News Mamata Banerjee Maruti Suzuki Rahul Gandhi Elon Musk
Shah Rukh Khan Chelsea FC OPPO Akhilesh Yadav Indian Cricket Team Apple Manchester United Salman Khan Cryptocurrency OnePlus
Amitabh Bachchan ICC Women's World Cup Vivo India vs Sri Lanka
About Us Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions Contact Us Ethical Conduct Grievance Redressal News News Archive Topics Archive IPL 2022 Schedule IPL 2022 Points Table Find Cricket Statistics
Follow us on
Facebook Twitter Linkedin Youtube
All rights reserved © NewsBytes 2022