The Zhurong rover , whose name translates to “ fire god , ” used a detachable wireless photographic camera to trance a clever mental image of itself and its landing platform on the surface of Mars .
It ’s small in comparability to NASA ’s Curiosity and Perseverance wanderer , but the six - wheeled Zhurong is a major pot for China , as it ’s the country ’s first missionary work to explore the Red Planet . The China National Space Administration unveil a batch of images today in celebration of the mission , as the state - run Xinhuareports .
The 530 - pound ( 240 - kilogram ) rover land on May 14 , and drive off the landing political platform on May 22 . Zhurong is exploring Utopia Planitia — a plain last visit by NASA ’s Viking Lander 2 in 1976 .
The new “selfie,” showing the Zhurong rover and its landing platform.Image: CNSA via Xinhua
To create the selfie , the rover placed a wireless photographic camera on the dusty surface , plump for away nearly 33 feet ( 10 cadence ) , and coin a pose , as Naturereports . The image shows Zhurong with its flag proudly extended , along with the rocket - powered platform that brought the rover to the aerofoil . Chinese flags can be go through on both vehicles .
Other paradigm let in a 360 - degree bird’s-eye view of the landing site , a injection of the landing political program in isolation ( along with bike racetrack at the base of the lengthened ramp ) , and an unobstructed double usher Zhurong ’s current environment .
Zhurong ’s missionary station is expected to last for 90 sols , or Martian days , during which clock time it will track weather , subject geology , and perform other duties as a remote planetary scientist . The bird of passage has a laser tool for study rocks and radar for sniffing out subsurface water - ice . Interesting features of Utopia Planitia include sand dune - like structures , potential frost , and theremnantof an old lava or clay vent .
The landing platform shown in isolation.Image: CNSA via Xinhua
to begin with this week , China ’s space agencyreleasednew image of Mars taken by its Tianwen-1 probe . A hi - res persona take on June 2 establish Zhurong and the landing place weapons platform on the surface , along with a dark splotch due to the lander ’s retro - rocket engine . The Tianwen-1 orbiter , which launched together with Zhurong on July 23 , 2020 , will spend a full Martian yr , or 687 Earth day , relaying communications to the rover and lead its own scientific work .
Zhurong is one of three scouter currently working on the Red Planet , the others being NASA ’s Curiosity and Perseverance ( NASA ’s InSight investigation is also active on Mars , but it ’s immobile ) . With Perseverance ’s commissioning phase now complete , the rover isreadyto embark on its first scientific expedition . Mars has quite suddenly become a very busy place , which is awe-inspiring .
In ChinaMarsMars roversSpacecraftSpaceflightTianwen-1
A 360-degree panorama showing the landing site.Image: CNSA via Xinhua
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A view of the Chinese lander’s immediate environment.Image: CNSA via Xinhua
Images taken by Tianwen-1 probe show the landing site before and after the landing.Image: CNSA
