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Eduardo Baptista

China has issued the first pictures taken by its Zhu Rong Mars rover, which touched down on the red planet on Saturday.
The China National Space Administration (CNSA) released the images on Wednesday. The forward view shows the landscape ahead of the robot as it sits on its landing platform, while the rear-looking image shows Zhu Rong’s solar panels.
China’s state media said the images provided “conclusive proof” that Zhu Rong had not been damaged during the landing stage.

There had been some debate on social media that the reason the CNSA had not released any pictures of the Martian surface was because Zhu Rong had met an untimely end.
The Chinese rover is not alone on Mars. Nasa’s Curiosity and Perseverance are also there.
On April 20, Perseverance succeeded in extracting oxygen from the planet’s carbon dioxide-rich atmosphere, a feat never before achieved.


Zhu Rong’s mission comes as China is racing to catch up with the United States in space technology. In recent years, China has launched the world’s first quantum satellite, made a soft landing on the far side of the moon and brought lunar samples back using a purely robotic mission.
It has also begun building its own space station. CCTV said late on Wednesday that the launch of Tianzhou-2 – a cargo spacecraft that will transfer fuel and supplies to Tianhe, the space station’s core module that was launched on April 28 – would take place about 1am on Thursday.
The launch will be the second of 11 scheduled for this year and next as the space station takes shape.


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China's space programme

China releases first images of Mars taken by Zhu Rong rover

The red soil and rocks of the Martian surface are clearly visible in this image taken by China’s Zhu Rong rover. Photo: CNSA

(210519) -- BEIJING, May 19, 2021 (Xinhua) -- Black and white photo released by the China National Space Administration (CNSA) on May 19, 2021, taken by an obstacle avoidance camera installed in front of the Mars rover, shows that a ramp on the lander has been extended to the surface of Mars. The terrain of the rover's forward direction is clearly visible in the image, and the horizon of Mars appears curved due to the wide-angle lens. Two photos and two videos captured by China's Mars probe Tianwen-1 during and after the country's first landing on the red planet were released by the China National Space Administration (CNSA) on Wednesday. (China National Space Administration/Handout via Xinhua)

Touchdown for China’s Mars rover Zhu Rong after ‘nine minutes of terror’

An artist’s impression of the Zhu Rong Mars rover, which landed on the red planet on Saturday. Photo: Weibo

China names its Mars rover Zhu Rong after mythical god of war

China’s first Mars rover has been named after the god of fire and war. Photo: Handout

Anticipation builds for Zhu Rong Mars rover landing, another step towards China’s space ambitions

China’s Tianwen-1 probe is preparing to land its rover in a vast northern lava plain known as the Utopia Planitia, says state media. Photo: China National Space Administration

News

China

Science


Pictures provide ‘conclusive proof’ craft successfully landed on red planet, state media says
Zhu Rong touched down on Mars on Saturday



Pictures provide ‘conclusive proof’ craft successfully landed on red planet, state media says.


Space

China technology

China releases first images of Mars taken by Zhu Rong rover

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;} Pictures provide ‘conclusive proof’ craft successfully landed on red planet, state media says Zhu Rong touched down on Mars on Saturday

Pictures provide ‘conclusive proof’ craft successfully landed on red planet, state media says

Zhu Rong touched down on Mars on Saturday