As Tianwen-1 marked its entry into Mars orbit earlier in the week, the cameras aboard the spacecraft captured a close-up view of Mars. China’s space agency has now released two videos giving a glimpse of the same thing.
Estimating the Lunar New Year’s reception to Earth by Tianwen-1, China’s National Space Administration has dropped two fragments of just under a minute of the spacecraft into Mars orbit.
Tianwen-1 New Year’s blessings came through from distant Mars, ”said the CNSA on Friday marking the first day of the Lunar New Year.
Drawn from the cameras attached to the spacecraft, the film shows Mars as a large ball of white light in the background with slits on its surface. The films begin to shake at one point, revealing the activity of solar thrushes on the spacecraft to descend into Mars orbit.
“The solar panels, directional antenna, Martian atmosphere and landscape are clearly visible,” the CNSA said.
Tianwen-1 took off from Earth in July last year, and covered a six-and-a-half-month journey through space to reach the red planet. It was the second spacecraft to reach the planet this month, with the UAE probe the first and a NASA Stability rover yet to arrive.
In the coming days, the orbiter on Tianwen-1 will orbit the red planet. After observing the Martian skies for three months, the rover on the Tianwen-1 splits and descends to the Martian surface. Once on the surface, he aims to find clues for water beneath the Martian surface and even to look for signs of alien ancient life on the planet.
(Supported by organizations)