China's Zhurong rover has sent back its first images, after landing on Mars last week. Courtesy: China National Space Administration
China's Zhurong rover has sent back its first images, after landing on Mars last week. Courtesy: China National Space Administration
China's Zhurong rover has sent back its first images, after landing on Mars last week. Courtesy: China National Space Administration
China's Zhurong rover has sent back its first images, after landing on Mars last week. Courtesy: China National Space Administration

Science

China’s rover sends back first images after making historic landing on Mars

The Zhurong rover has descended from its lander and is ready to explore

Sarwat Nasir
Sarwat Nasir
UAE

May 19, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

A Chinese rover has sent back its first images, after making a historic landing on Mars last week.

The Zhurong rover – named after a God of fire in Chinese mythology – has descended from its landing platform to explore.

On May 15, China became only the second nation to land on the Red Planet, when the rover parachuted down to the surface of Mars.

Two new images released by the Chinese space authorities show the six-wheeled rover on the surface of the planet, resting on the Utopia Planitia plain.

This is the largest impact crater in the Solar System, with a diameter of 3,300 kilometre.

The Zhurong rover descends from its landing platform to the Martian surface. Courtesy: China National Space Administration
The Zhurong rover descends from its landing platform to the Martian surface. Courtesy: China National Space Administration

This landing spot was chosen because the impact basin is believed to contain underground ice, which could help in the search for signs of ancient life.

Zhurong was carried to Mars aboard the Tianwen-1 spacecraft, which has been orbiting around Mars since February 10.

The orbiter is studying the atmosphere of the planet, while the rover will spend three months studying the planet’s surface composition.

The UAE Space Agency and Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre congratulated China on the successful landing.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, had also congratulated China when Tianwen-1 reached Mars orbit in February.

Its entry into the Martian atmosphere was made less than 24 hours after the UAE's Hope probe reached the planet.

Emirati scientists have received more than 1,000 images from the spacecraft so far, including scientific images that measure the gases present in the atmosphere.

The first set of data will be released to the public in October.

The UAE's mission to Mars – in pictures

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid personally thank staff from mission control in Dubai after Hope probe's successful orbit entry on February 9. The National
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid personally thank staff from mission control in Dubai after Hope probe's successful orbit entry on February 9. The National
A man celebrates at an event at Burj Park in Dubai to celebrate the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National
A man celebrates at an event at Burj Park in Dubai to celebrate the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National
People celebrate at an event at Burj Park to celebrate the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National
People celebrate at an event at Burj Park to celebrate the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National
An event at Burj Park to celebrate the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National
An event at Burj Park to celebrate the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National
People celebrate at an event at Burj Park to celebrate the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National
People celebrate at an event at Burj Park to celebrate the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Guests arrive at the Burj Park event to mark the arrival of the Hope probe to Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Guests arrive at the Burj Park event to mark the arrival of the Hope probe to Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National
A guest attending the Burj Park event to mark the arrival of the Hope probe to Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National
A guest attending the Burj Park event to mark the arrival of the Hope probe to Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Burj Park was set up for people to watch the Hope probe attempt its Mars orbit insertion. Courtesy: UAE Government Twitter
Burj Park was set up for people to watch the Hope probe attempt its Mars orbit insertion. Courtesy: UAE Government Twitter
UAE Mars Mission engineer, Hessa Al Matroushi, was interviewed at a Burj Park event to mark the arrival of the Hope probe to Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National
UAE Mars Mission engineer, Hessa Al Matroushi, was interviewed at a Burj Park event to mark the arrival of the Hope probe to Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, attended the event at Burj Park to mark the arrival of the Hope probe to Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, attended the event at Burj Park to mark the arrival of the Hope probe to Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Engineer Hessa Al Matroushi attended the event at Burj Park to mark the arrival of the Hope probe to Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Engineer Hessa Al Matroushi attended the event at Burj Park to mark the arrival of the Hope probe to Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National
TV crews get ready at an event at Burj Park in Dubai to celebrate the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National
TV crews get ready at an event at Burj Park in Dubai to celebrate the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National
An event at Dubai's Burj Park to celebrate the Hope probe's Mars orbit insertion attempt. Chris Whiteoak / The National
An event at Dubai's Burj Park to celebrate the Hope probe's Mars orbit insertion attempt. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Guests arrive at an event at Burj Park to mark the Hope probe's Mars orbit insertion attempt. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Guests arrive at an event at Burj Park to mark the Hope probe's Mars orbit insertion attempt. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Guests and media arrive at an event at Burj Park to witness Hope probe's Mars orbit insertion attempt. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Guests and media arrive at an event at Burj Park to witness Hope probe's Mars orbit insertion attempt. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Guests arrive at an event at Burj Park to mark the Hope probe's Mars orbit insertion attempt. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Guests arrive at an event at Burj Park to mark the Hope probe's Mars orbit insertion attempt. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Guests arrive at an event at Burj Park to mark the Hope probe's Mars orbit insertion attempt. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Guests arrive at an event at Burj Park to mark the Hope probe's Mars orbit insertion attempt. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Guests arrive at an event at Burj Park to mark the Hope probe's Mars orbit insertion attempt. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Guests arrive at an event at Burj Park to mark the Hope probe's Mars orbit insertion attempt. Chris Whiteoak / The National
The Burj Khalifa lights up at an event at Burj Park in Dubai to celebrate the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National
The Burj Khalifa lights up at an event at Burj Park in Dubai to celebrate the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National
The UAE Flag area on the Corniche in Abu Dhabi lights up in red to celebrate the success of the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Victor Besa / The National
The UAE Flag area on the Corniche in Abu Dhabi lights up in red to celebrate the success of the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Victor Besa / The National
The ADNOC Headquarters lights up in Abu Dhabi to celebrate the success of the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Victor Besa / The National
The ADNOC Headquarters lights up in Abu Dhabi to celebrate the success of the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Victor Besa / The National
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed celebrates with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid at an event at Burj Park in Dubai to celebrate the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed celebrates with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid at an event at Burj Park in Dubai to celebrate the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National
People celebrate at an event at Burj Park in Dubai to mark the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National
People celebrate at an event at Burj Park in Dubai to mark the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National

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