On Saturday, China successfully landed its small remote-controlled robot "Zhurong" on the surface of Mars, marking a historic achievement for the Asian giant, as reported by the state television channel (CCTV). Landing on the red planet is a complex task, and several European, Soviet, and American missions have failed in the past. China had previously attempted to send a probe to Mars in 2011 during a joint mission with Russia, but that attempt was halted, and Beijing decided to continue the endeavor alone.
In late July 2020, the Chinese launched their unmanned mission "Tianwen-1," named after the probe sent into space. The probe consists of three parts: an orbiter (which circles the planet), a lander, and the remote-controlled robot "Zhurong." This spacecraft successfully landed on the Martian surface, allowing the "Zhurong" robot to disembark. The Chinese channel reported that the "Tianwen-1 lander successfully touched down at a pre-designated area" on Mars with the "Zhurong" robot onboard, noting that a "signal" had been received on Earth.
The robot landed in an area on the red planet called "Utopia Planitia," a vast plain located in the northern hemisphere of Mars. This marks the first independent attempt by the Chinese, who ambitiously hope to achieve all that Americans have accomplished in multiple Mars missions since the 1960s. In February, China successfully placed "Tianwen-1" in orbit around Mars and captured images of the red planet. Earlier on Saturday, it managed to land the probe on the Martian surface, allowing the robot to exit.
Achieving these three operations during the first mission is a world-first accomplishment. Zhurong weighs over 200 kilograms and is equipped with four solar panels for power, with an expected operational duration of three months. It is also fitted with cameras, radar, and lasers, enabling it to study the Martian environment and analyze the composition of the planet's rocks. The name "Zhurong" comes from a fire god in Chinese mythology, following an online poll. The Chinese name for Mars is "Huo Xing," which literally translates to "Fire Planet."
