Two Bombs and One Satellite : China eyes space race from Moon to Mars and beyond Sibu Tripathi Xi Jinping
With a recovering economy, a strongman attitude, and a plan to dominate, China is eyeing a new frontier space. The country that recently became the centre of global condemnation over the handling of the deadly coronavirus, on Friday joined an elite club of nations to land a rover on another planet.
China s first Mars exploration mission, the Tianwen-1 probe, touched down in the Utopia Planitia basin, putting the country officially in the race to Mars which has so far been dominated by Nasa and the United States.
To Mars and beyond: China s space missions
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Steven Lee Myers, The New York Times
Published: 15 May 2021 11:22 AM BdST
Updated: 15 May 2021 11:22 AM BdST
China has now accomplished something that only the United States and (very briefly) the Soviet Union had done before: a successful landing on Mars. );
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Having orbited the planet since February, a Chinese craft, called Tianwen-1, sent a landing vehicle on a difficult descent to its surface, where it touched down on Saturday. The vehicle, which is carrying a land rover, joined three NASA spacecraft that were already surveying the planet.
The Chinese Mars mission may seem less sexy than NASA’s latest, since it is essentially repeating feats that the Americans accomplished decades ago, but it represents another milestone in China’s ambition to make itself a “great space power,” as its top leader, Xi Jinping, put it last month.
The Moon, Mars and Beyond: Chinaâs Ambitious Plans in Space
An upcoming Mars landing is one of many high-profile missions on the countryâs schedule as it seeks to challenge American dominance of space exploration.
Watching the launch of a rocket carrying the Tianwen-1 Mars probe in Wenchang, China, in July.Credit.Yang Guanyu/Xinhua, via Associated Press
May 14, 2021, 3:31 a.m. ET
China is about to attempt something that only the United States and (very briefly) the Soviet Union have done before: successfully land a spacecraft on the surface of Mars.
Having orbited the planet since February, the Chinese craft, called Tianwen-1, is expected to send a landing vehicle on a difficult descent through the thin Martian atmosphere in the coming days. If all goes well, that vehicle and the land rover it is carrying will join three NASA spacecraft that are already surveying the planet.
China is about to attempt something that only the United States and (very briefly) the Soviet Union have done before: successfully land a spacecraft on the surface of Mars. Having orbited the planet since February, the Chinese craft, called Tianwen-1, is expected to send a landing vehicle on a difficult descent through the thin Martian atmosphere, possibly as soon as Saturday. If all goes well, that vehicle and the land rover it is carrying will join three Nasa spacecraft that are already surveying the planet. The Chinese Mars mission may seem less sexy than Nasa’s latest, since it is essentially repeating feats that the Americans accomplished decades ago, but it represents another milestone in China’s ambition to make itself a “great space power”. More potential milestones lie ahead. Here’s what to know about them.
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