After travelling more than seven months in space, Tianwen 1 is one step closer to Mars! Tianwen 1, China's first Mars probe(探测器), successfully entered Mars orbit(轨道) in February, according to the China National Space Administration (CNSA). It will stay in orbit for about three months before landing on the red planet.
A small step on the red planet will be a big step for human beings. Humans have launched 46 Mars exploration missions(探测任务) since October 1960, but only 19 of them have been successful, according to China Daily. It's China's first spacecraft to Mars, and the missions are rather ambitious. Tianwen 1 aims to achieve "orbiting, landing, and roving" all in one journey, which will make the country the world's first to accomplish all three goals with one probe, mission scientists said.
Among the three tasks, touchdown on the red planet is the most difficult. The result mainly depends on the "breathtaking(激动的) seven minutes," which will use several cutting-edge technologies(前沿技术) and accurate(精确的) timing of each action, including the starting of engines and opening of parachutes(降落伞) to ensure a safe landing, according to the Global Times.
The previous(此前的) success of Chang'e 5 has accumulated(积累) experience in this regard which "boosts(增强) our confidence", Wang Ya'nan, chief editor of Beijing-based Aerospace Knowledge magazine, told the Global Times.