China's Space Program News Thread
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@siegecrossbow said that the lander first needs to get enough power from the solar panels before rolling down. Should take some days I think
Latest estimate is one week.
Hendrik_2000
Lieutenant General
Excellent detail animation as to the process of landing on Mars without saying. It is the most ambitious China's space program. Since it is done for the first time around in unknown environment and without the assistance of Human operator
May 15, 2021
Designers of China's first Mars probe Tianwen-1, whose lander just touched down on the surface of the red planet on Saturday morning, unveiled the crucial nine minutes when the craft reduced its speed from about 4.8 kilometers per second to zero and made a safe landing all on its own.
Designers unveil process of China's first Mars probe’s 9-minute landing
May 15, 2021
Designers of China's first Mars probe Tianwen-1, whose lander just touched down on the surface of the red planet on Saturday morning, unveiled the crucial nine minutes when the craft reduced its speed from about 4.8 kilometers per second to zero and made a safe landing all on its own.
To put things into context, this mission has a takeoff mass of 5,000kg, contains an orbiter, lander and rover, its EDL stack weighs 1,8 tons, enters Mars orbit with the orbiter, and uses powered descent and obstacle avoidance during final. All this on China's first attempt at anything past the Moon, and hitting the 2020 launch window with a 2016 starting date. Probably on budget too.
This has got to be one of the most insane interplanetary missions in decades if not ever, congratulations to CNSA and everyone involved for acing another major mission milestone! Now onwards to the surface and discovery!
This has got to be one of the most insane interplanetary missions in decades if not ever, congratulations to CNSA and everyone involved for acing another major mission milestone! Now onwards to the surface and discovery!
Not to mention the earlier trouble with Long March 5 between 2017 and 2019 putting the mission in doubt.
Why do they send the rover out with a flat battery?
The battery is not big. It is only used to store enough energy during the Mars night which is almost the same as earth. It would be very low after the months journey even if it was fully charged at departure. Think about your mobile phone left uncharged for months.
Btw with the recent achievements of CNSA and its demonstrated competence and generating big soft power boost for China is it possible to get bigger budgets on the coming years?
The people working at CNSA have demonstrated that they work smart, hard, produce results with minimal failure, keep costs down etc. To me this is an extremely well run agency and the CPC could entrust it with more money to advance science and China status in the world
The people working at CNSA have demonstrated that they work smart, hard, produce results with minimal failure, keep costs down etc. To me this is an extremely well run agency and the CPC could entrust it with more money to advance science and China status in the world
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