Tianwen-1: China's Historic Journey to Mars Unveiled
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Chapter 1: The Journey Begins
China's Tianwen-1 mission has made its mark on space exploration by arriving at Mars with an orbiter, lander, and rover. This mission marks the second entry of new spacecraft to the Red Planet.
An artistic representation of the Tianwen-1 rover as it descends onto the reddish terrain of Mars. Image credit: Chinese National Space Agency (CNSA) / Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).
After a remarkable journey through space lasting 203 days, the Tianwen-1 spacecraft successfully entered orbit around Mars on February 10. This achievement positions China as the sixth nation to reach the Red Planet, following the United States, the Soviet Union, ESA, India, and the United Arab Emirates, which recently arrived with its Mars Hope Probe on February 9.
While details about China’s space initiatives are often limited compared to those of other countries, it is anticipated that a lander-rover combination from Tianwen-1 will touch down on Mars in May or June, likely in Utopia Planitia, a vast plain located in the northern hemisphere. This region is historically significant, having been the landing site for NASA’s Viking landers in the 1970s. In the realm of science fiction, it serves as a hub for spacecraft assembly in the Star Trek universe.
Section 1.1: Early Aspirations
China first set its sights on Mars back in November 2011. Unfortunately, the Yinghuo-1 orbiter met a tragic end shortly after launch, alongside Russia's Phobos-Grunt mission and The Planetary Society's Living Interplanetary Flight Experiment (LIFE).
An announcement celebrating the arrival of Tianwen-1 at Mars, courtesy of China Global Television Network. Credit: CGTN.
This current Tianwen-1 mission is a significant advancement over its predecessor. Weighing in at 5,000 kg (11,000 lbs), Tianwen-1 launched from the Wenchang Space Launch Center in Hainan province aboard a Long March 5 rocket on July 23, 2020. The mission has been predominantly developed and managed by Chinese organizations.
The orbiter will conduct comprehensive studies of Mars from orbit, utilizing a high-resolution camera, magnetometer, spectrometer, and ice-mapping radar. Additionally, it will serve as a communication link between the rover on the Martian surface and mission control on Earth.
The inaugural image of Mars captured by Tianwen-1, taken from a distance of 2.2 million km (1.37 million miles). Image credit: Xinhua.
Once the landing is successfully executed, a ramp will deploy from the lander, allowing the rover, roughly the size of a golf cart, to roll out onto the surface. This landing mechanism mirrors that of China’s Chang’e lunar landers. If all goes well, China will become only the second nation, after the United States, to achieve a successful landing on Mars. While the Soviet Mars 3 mission in 1971 did land, it only operated for two minutes before going silent.
The first video showcases the historic landing of China’s Tianwen-1 spacecraft on Mars, detailing the mission's significance and challenges.
Section 1.2: Uncovering Mars
As the rover traverses the Martian landscape, it will utilize radar technology to investigate subsurface conditions, particularly in search of water. Equipped with high-resolution cameras, the rover aims to capture breathtaking images of Mars. Additionally, it carries several instruments designed to analyze the planet's climate and geological features. Although it can communicate directly with ground control, rapid data transfers will be facilitated through the orbiter.
“Tianwen-1 will provide China with invaluable experience regarding Mars and pave the way for a potential sample return mission planned for the late 2020s. Only technology based on Earth can accurately date samples, reproduce scientific findings, and verify signs of life,” notes The Planetary Society.
The second video highlights the launch of China's Tianwen-1 Mars Mission, capturing the excitement and technological advancements that led to this monumental achievement.
Chapter 2: Overcoming Challenges
This mission is the first of its kind, as no nation has previously attempted to send both an orbiter and a lander during their initial Mars exploration. The lander is designed to function for at least one Martian year (687 Earth days), while the rover is intended to explore for 90 Martian days (93 Earth days).
The Martian atmosphere presents distinct challenges, making landings particularly complex. To navigate the “seven minutes of terror” during atmospheric entry, spacecraft today depend on heat shields, thrusters, and supersonic parachutes. This descent will be a crucial moment for the lander, with no guarantees of success.
“China’s inaugural Mars mission, Tianwen-1, is designed to achieve orbiting, landing, and roving in a single endeavor. The name translates to 'questions to heaven,' inspired by a poem by Qu Yuan, a renowned ancient Chinese poet,” researchers explained in an article featured in Nature Astronomy in July 2020.
As China embarks on its quest to explore the cosmos, the name and essence of Tianwen is likely to inspire interplanetary missions for years ahead.
James Maynard is the founder and publisher of The Cosmic Companion. A New England native turned desert dweller, he resides in Tucson with his wife Nicole and their cat, Max.
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