This undated photograph by the CNSA shows an image of Mars captured by the Mars probe from China Tianwen-1.
Beijing:
China’s national space agency on Thursday released high-resolution images of Mars captured by the country’s Tianwen-1 probe, which is orbiting the Red planet.
These images include two panchromatic scenes and one color image, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) said.
The panchromatic images were taken with the high-resolution camera of a Chinese spacecraft, Tianwen-1 meaning Quests to Heaven, at a distance of 330 to 350 km above the surface of Mars.
In the images, Martian landscapes such as small cracks, mountain ridges and forts can be seen. The diameter of the largest impact pit in the images is estimated to be around 620 meters, the state-run Xinhua news agency quoted CNSA as saying.
China launched Tianwen-1 on July 23, 2020. The spacecraft, which included an orbiter, lander and rover, entered orbit in the orbit around Mars on February 24.
It has flown for 224 days and about 475 million km. Currently, it is about 212 million km away from Earth, according to CNSA.
It entered the pre-positioned parking orbit above Mars on February 24 and would fly in this orbit for about three months before releasing the landing capsule.
The ultimate goal of the Tianwen 1 mission is to land in May or June on the southern tip of Mars’ Utopia Planitia – a large area within Utopia, the largest known impact basin in the solar system – to conduct scientific studies , state- run China Daily reported.
Weighing in at about 240 kilograms, the rover, which has not yet been named, has six wheels and four solar panels, and is capable of maneuvering 200 meters per hour on Mars.
It carries six scientific instruments including a multi-view camera, a ground-breaking radar and a meteorological meter, and is expected to operate for about three months on the planet.
The UAE, US and Chinese spacecraft have recently entered Mars orbit. NASA’s Perseverance rover landed on Mars on Feb. 18 after nearly seven months of orbit from Earth.
Since then, he has retrieved some amazing photos from around his landing site, Jezero Crater.
The UAE orbiter named Hope studies Martian atmosphere and climate.
Previously the US, Russia, EU as well as India have succeeded in sending a spacecraft to Mars considered the most complex space mission. India was the first Asian country to launch its Mars Mangalyaan orbiter mission that went into orbit on the red planet in 2014.
India was also the first country to enter Martian orbit in their first attempt.
(This story was not edited by NDTV staff and is automatically extracted from syndicated feedings.)