China plans to send probe to Mars

Following plans to explore the Moon, China plans to send probes and rovers to the red planet in 2020.

The model, unveiled in Shanghai on November 3, is one-third the size of the real probe. Photo: China Daily

China unveiled its Mars exploration vehicle at the China International Industry Fair in Shanghai on November 3. The probe consists of a large hexagonal orbiter and a rover, China Daily reported.

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASTC), the probe's manufacturer, said it can perform all necessary functions and actively navigate the planet autonomously.

The Chinese probe is scheduled to explore Mars in 2020 and will take about 10 months to arrive. According to Niu Shengda, a satellite expert at the Shanghai Institute of Space Technology, it will carry out comprehensive remote sensing (studying the surface and exploring the deep layers of the planet) and landing on the surface of Mars.

Experts say the big challenge for Chinese scientists is maintaining communication with Earth because the great distance between the two planets will reduce the ability to transmit signals. At a distance of 400 million kilometers - 900 times the distance between the Earth and the Moon - the time it takes for a communication signal to travel between the probe and Earth is 40 minutes.

"The signal can be very weak, delayed or interrupted. The spacecraft must be intelligent enough to independently control itself in many situations, such as when extending its wings to land or slowing down to enter Mars orbit," Nui said.

According to CNN, the above information was released not long after scientists from the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announced the discovery of traces of water on the surface of the red planet, raising hopes of finding life there.

In the space race, China sent an unmanned probe to the Moon two years ago. In 2017, the country plans to land on the Moon and bring back soil samples. The Chang’e 4 spacecraft is expected to land on the far side of the Moon before 2020, and if successful, China will be the first country to land a probe there.

According to VnExpress