Zhurong Mars rover adopts two primary methods to keep itself warm. The first method is passive insulation. The rover is wrapped in a layer of aerogel, an extremely lightweight material with excellent insulation properties.
The second method utilizes phase transition. The rover has two circular windows on its top surface, and directly beneath them are 20 heat collectors, with each collector containing a special chemical. As sunlight passes through the circular windows, the collectors absorbs its heat, which in turn liquefies the chemical inside the collectors. At night, the liquid chemical slowly solidifies while releasing heat back into the interior of the rover to maintain a stable internal temperature.
