Skip to main content

China set to launch of Mars probe in July

By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

 After successful handling of COVID-19, China is back to normal business as it plans to launch first Mars probe between July and August, aiming to complete orbiting, landing and roving in one mission, an expert said in a recent interview with the state broadcaster CCTV in Beijing.

After the launch via China's largest carrier rocket Long March-5, the probe is expected to reach within the gravitational field of Mars next February and it will be captured into orbit around the planet, Bao Weimin, an academic with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, informed. 

He is also the director of the Committee of Science and Technology under the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.  
According to Bao, China's Mars probe consists of an orbiter as well as a lander and a rover. The lander and rover will make a soft landing on the surface. 

The Mars rover, which is expected to work on Mars for at least 90 Mars days (more than three months on Earth), will carry out patrol exploration and research on geomorphic landforms of Mars. 

A safe landing on Mars is the most difficult and risky part of the mission, and the lander carrying the rover will be slowed down through four steps, Bao noted. 

The first step, which will last for about 290 seconds, is akin to breaking, slowing down its speed from 4.8 km per second to 460 meters per second. Next, a parachute will be opened and it will take about 90 seconds to lower the speed from 460 meters per second to 95 meters per second. A reverse thrust engine will then be ignited, decelerating the speed to 3.6 meters per second in about 80 seconds. 

After the first three steps, the lander carrying the rover will be about 100 meters above the Mars surface. Hovering in the air, it can observe the surface, adjust its position and select a safe spot to land in an obstacle-avoiding mode. The whole landing process will take about seven to eight minutes, Bao revealed. 

Last November, China had successfully mounted an experiment simulating the process of a probe hovering, avoiding obstacles and descending to land on Mars. 

In April, China announced that its first Mars exploration mission was named Tianwen-1. The name comes from the long poem ‘Tianwen’ meaning Questions to Heaven, written by Qu Yuan (about 340-278 BC), one of the greatest poets of ancient China.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

KDSP: Empowering Individuals with Down Syndrome in Karachi

The Karachi Down Syndrome Program (KDSP), a beacon of hope and support, is making significant strides in empowering individuals with Down syndrome in the city. Founded in March 2014 by a group of passionate parents and individuals, KDSP addresses the critical need for comprehensive resources and platforms for those with Down syndrome in Karachi. Bridging the Gap: A Mission of Advocacy and Inclusion KDSP operates as a non-profit organization with a clear mission: to advocate for the value, acceptance, and inclusion of individuals with Down syndrome. Recognizing the limited support and resources available locally, KDSP was established to provide a nurturing environment where individuals with Down syndrome can lead independent and fulfilling lives. A Lifelong Journey of Support Understanding the unique needs of individuals with Down syndrome and their families, KDSP offers unwavering support from the moment a family receives a diagnosis.  They embark on a journey with each family, pro...
Post a Comment
Read more

China’s maize-soybean technology brings bumper harvest in Punjab

By Masood Sattar Khan (Pakistan News & Features Services) The harvest of maize-soybean strip inter-cropping demonstration in Bahawalpur, Punjab, was completed on July 6. The yields of soybean and maize reached 1,304 kg/ha and 8,596 kg/ha respectively, which exhibited satisfactory results. This was indeed encouraging news for local farmers who desired growing soybean without curbing the cultivation of maize, the Gwadar Pro, a Chinese website, reported July 7.  Maize harvest in this inter-cropping field outdistanced the country’s average maize yield which was only around 5,000 kg per hectare. Meanwhile, the farmers received considerable soybeans as an additional return.  As the selling price of soybean was two to three times that of maize, when comparing the two crops as a whole, the overall economic benefit had been significantly improved.  “If you calculate the total benefits, maize-soybean inter-cropping will be the best system in terms of i...
Post a Comment
Read more

China's port city Tianjin houses beautiful mosque

By Masood Sattar Khan (Pakistan News & Features Services) Tianjin, one the China’s busiest port cities and close to Beijing, has a beautiful masque sprawling on 1970 meters with all modern facilities for worshippers.  The famous Tianjin East Mosque is located in downtown at Ermalu Road in Nankai district. Tianjin is estimated to have around a Muslim population of 180,000.  The mosque was built anew in 2008 when it was relocated to shift for more spacious space to facilitate the local Muslims.  The new mosque is very beautiful with modern facilities thus the atmosphere becomes more comfortable for the worshippers. The walls of the main prayer hall are decorated with verses from Holy Quran.
Post a Comment
Read more