Black and white photo of Mars taken by Tianwen 1, the first image from a Chinese craft.
Beijing, China:
The Tianwen-1 probe in China on Monday performed an orbital orbit around Mars, days after it entered orbit around the red planet successfully taking a trip nearly seven months from Earth.
Ahead of the China probe, the UAE Hope probe made it safely into Mars orbit on Tuesday. NASA’s U.S. space agency will attempt to launch another of its giant rovers on the surface of the red planet Thursday.
The Tianwen-1 probe of a 3000N engine was lit at 5pm (Beijing time) on Monday to ensure the probe’s path passes Mars poles, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) said.
The spacecraft will make several other changes to orbital to enter a parking orbit, the CNSA said.
The probe, which included an orbiter, lander and rover, successfully entered Mars orbit on February 10 after a nearly seven-month journey from Earth.
The lawyer carrying the rover is expected to land on Mars in May or June.
Chinese space engineers and scientists have selected a relatively flat area in the southern Utopia Planitia, a large area, as a potential landing area.
The rover will be released after landing for a scientific investigation, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
(This story was not edited by NDTV staff and is automatically extracted from syndicated feedings.)