Do you remember when in January 2019 China announced its intentions to travel to Mars? At the time the revelation sounded like almost impossible nonsense. But it just happened.
A few moments ago, the Chinese news agency Xinhua News, the Chinese Space Agency, many of the specialized press and half humanity witnessed the successful launch of their first space mission to the red planet, Tianwen-1.
China sends its first mission to Mars. Tianwen-1 was launched from Wenchang towards the red planet on a voyage that will last until next year. #Mars pic.twitter.com/9PmlzHCoEe
— China Xinhua News (@XHNews) July 23, 2020
The strange name of this mission is not accidental since in its native language it means “questions to heaven-1” and its main objective is to reach Mars to explore its surface with a special rover that goes on the ship.
The probe took off mounted on a Long March 5 rocket that took off from the Wenchang base on the Chinese island of Hainan.
But Tianwen-1 won’t reach Mars until 2021 since the 55 million-kilometer journey to the red planet will take about seven months.
The Chinese probe is equipped with an observation orbiter to rotate around Mars, a lander, and an exploration rover to analyze the ground.
China did it. And in one of the most complicated and tense diplomatic moments, where the clash with the United States remains constant.