The "Tianwen-1" Chinese probe for the exploration of Mars has covered 400 million kilometers
3 January 2021
The Chinese probe "Tianwen-1" created to study the planet Mars has covered over 400 million km in the 163 days of flight. It will reach the orbit of the Red Planet in February 2021.
It currently is 130 million kilometers from Earth, and 8.3 million kilometers from Mars, the TASS news agency reports quoting the Xinhua news agency.
The Martian Rover is a 200-kilogram (441 lb), six-wheeled, self-propelled vehicle which is equipped with four solar panels. It carries six pieces of scientific equipment on board for studying the Martian soil, magnetic fields and the atmosphere of the Red Planet.
The trajectory of the probe to Mars is not a straight line, but an arc, so the distance from the device to the Earth is less than the actual path it traveled towards the Red Planet.
The the probe's position in space remains stable. In about a month, it should approach Mars. Then the device will begin damping its speed, after which it will enter the orbit of this planet and will prepare for landing.
Once the Mars landing module that is carrying the rover reaches an altitude of approximately 100 meters above the surface of Mars, the device will slow down and will hover for a few seconds to scan the landing site to avoid obstacles on the planet's surface. Then the actual landing process will start, and will be executed within seven minutes. The module will perform all its operations in an automatic mode.
The planned duration of the rover's work is 90 Martian days (a Martian day is called a "sol". It is 24 hours 39 minutes 35 seconds of Earth time).
The logo of the Chinese Mars program in the shape of the letter "C" - China. The letter consists of the planetary orbits of the solar system, in the lower part the word "Mars" is written.
Tianwen-1 was launched on July 23, 2020
Orvit scheme: Kaynouky (https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utilisateur:Kaynouky)
Photo: https://thealphacentauri.net/55869-tyanven-1-detali-missii/
Text: Natalia Anufrieva
Source: www.vz,ru