[ad_1]
China has clearly defined its ambitions in space by announcing the end of the construction of its first Martian rover, with a mission whose launch is scheduled for 2020.
The main mission of the rover is to look for signs of life, but the probe will also explore whether the planet can be terraformed, to make it totally habitable for humans.
Throughout its mission, the machine will perform atmospheric, topographic, geological and magnetic readings as part of a feasibility study on the future exploration and perhaps even colonization of the planet.
Also on rt.com
Musk ridiculed for tweeting a photo of Moon with the capture "Occupy Mars"
The launch is scheduled to coincide with the closest flyby on the planet, which takes place every 26 months and lasts about a month.
Given the 10 minute delay in communications between the Earth and the Red Planet, the spacecraft will have to make its own landing decisions during the so – called "Seven Minute of Terror" that enters the planet. Martian atmosphere. Up to now, only 19 of the 45 human missions on Mars have been successful, the majority of them being of orbital nature or overflown.
Chinese scientists will also face the inevitable challenge posed by Mars' many powerful dust storms, which can strike with the force of a 12-strong typhoon on Earth.
Also on rt.com
Two new candidates for human colonization emerge just 12.5 light-years away
"Although China's Mars mission started late, we have a good starting point with the three-in-one design. And we are ready to face the challenges ยป Pang Zhihao, an expert in space exploration technology in Beijing, noted.
Sun Zezhou, chief designer of the Chinese lunar probe Chang'e-4, described the development of the Mars rover as being "Very painful" but added that, "It's the pressure that causes technological progress."
The launch of Changzheng 5 ("Long March 5 "The rocket carrying the rover is expected to be in July or August 2020 from the Wenchang Cosmodrome in Hainan Province. Everything is going as planned, the probe could send data to Earth as early as 2021.
You think your friends would be interested? Share this story!
[ad_2]
Source link