China’s several space missions in 2020 include Mars probe and space station launch

Some of China’s space ambitions depend on a rocket that previously failed to launch

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At the C-Space Project Mars simulation base in China’s Gobi Desert, a staff member poses in a mock space suit in April 2019. (Picture: Reuters)

Published: 10:00am, 17 Dec 2019Updated: 12:19pm, 11 May 2021

This article originally appeared on ABACUS

It looks like 2020 is going to be a pretty busy year for China’s space exploration. Despite not having sent astronauts into space for three years, China became the first country to land a probe on the far side of the moon this year. And the country is set to complete more projects in the coming year, according to People’s Daily.

Here’s a look at what’s on the agenda.

Launching Mars probe

China officially unveiled its Mars mission in 2016, planning to launch the first unmanned Mars probe in 2020. Last month, China successfully completed a landing test in China’s northern Hebei province, which included hovering, avoiding obstacles and deceleration.

The launch is expected to happen in July 2020, with the mission aiming to “conduct a comprehensive exploration of Mars and make detailed inspections of key areas.” NASA is launching its Mars 2020 rover around the same time. ExoMars, a joint Mars exploration project by the European Space Agency and Russian space agency Roscosmos, is also expected to probe Mars next year.

Launch space station core module

China is building its own space station, which is expected to be put into use between 2022 and 2024. The Tiangong space station will be T-shaped, according to Xinhua, with the Tianhe core module at the center and two experiment capsules on the sides.