China launched a spacecraft to Mars, including a vehicle for field research of the planet's surface

The scientific objectives of the first Mars exploration mission are mainly to examine the characteristics of the morphology and geological structure of Mars, the characteristics of the surface soil and the distribution of water ice on Mars. The composition of the material on the surface of Mars, environmental characteristics of the Martian atmosphere and surface climate, the physical and internal field of Mars, and more will also be investigated.

This morning (July 23, 2020), China successfully launched its first Mars mission, Tianwen-1, using the Long March 5 launcher. The launcher operated for 2,167 seconds and brought the spacecraft into the orbit it is preparing to launch towards Mars. The Tianwan 1 probe will fly in orbit for about seven months and arrive near Mars. Then it will complete the capture of Mars by "braking", enter orbit around Mars and choose the opportunity to land. The spacecraft also carries a robotic vehicle that will allow it to explore the environment of the landing area.
China's first mission to Mars is called Tianwen-1, which means questions to the sky and comes from a poem written by Qu Yuan (about 340-278 BC), one of the greatest poets of ancient China. The Chinese Space Agency or the National Space Administration, as it is called, says that the name symbolizes the persistence of the Chinese nation in the pursuit of truth and science and in the exploration of nature and the universe.

The Chinese Space Agency explains that the engineering objectives of the first Mars exploration mission are to test technological breakthroughs such as capture and braking by the gravity of Mars, entry / descent / landing, long-term autonomous management, long-distance measurement and control communication and surface testing of Mars. All this in order to obtain the ability to navigate, locate and tour Mars, and to acquire Mars exploration sciences in order to realize China's technological leap in the field of deep space exploration; The second is to establish an independent deep space exploration engineering system, which includes planning, manufacturing, testing, flight mission implementation, scientific research, engineering management and team training to promote China's deep space exploration activities for sustainable development.

The scientific objectives of the first Mars exploration mission are mainly to examine the characteristics of the morphology and geological structure of Mars, the characteristics of the surface soil and the distribution of water ice on Mars. The composition of the material on the surface of Mars, environmental characteristics of the Martian atmosphere and surface climate, the physical and internal field of Mars, and more will also be investigated.

The first Chinese research mission to Mars was approved by the Party Central Committee and the State Council in January 2016. It was organized and carried out by the National Space Administration. The Midashima consists of five main systems that include the overall project and detectors, launch vehicles, launch sites, measurement and control and ground applications. The Engineering Center of the National Space Administration is the engineering unit of the Chinese Academy that includes the development of all-terrain vehicle technology, and is responsible for the development of the launcher, the Chinese Academy of Space Technology and the Shanghai Academy of Aerospace Technology is responsible for the development of the detectors. China's Ministry of Satellite Operation and Control was responsible for organizing the launch, measurement and control. The National Astronomical Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences develops ground application systems and is responsible for data acquisition, processing and storage management of scientific information.
As an open scientific investigation platform for the exploration of Mars in China, many research institutions throughout the superpower, including universities in Hong Kong and Macau (apparently the issue was emphasized in the Chinese announcement in light of the tensions in Hong Kong), actively participated in the development process. China has also carried out a number of cooperations with the European Space Agency (ESA), France, Austria, Argentina and other countries and organizations.
Due to the movement of the planets around the sun, the window for the journey from Earth to Mars opens once every 26 months and this time it falls on July-August 2020.

Today's launch was the second to take advantage of the window. About a week ago it was sent from Japan The United Arab Emirates' Hope spacecraft.
Next week, NASA is expected to launch Preservation, its fifth robotic research vehicle to Mars, it will land in Jezero Crater and try to find signs of ancient life that was born when the crater was still a lake. It is also accompanied by a drone-helicopter, the first of its kind to fly outside the Earth's atmosphere.

More of the topic in Hayadan:
Chinese spacecraft to Mars
NASA's Mars lander will be the first spacecraft on another planet. This is how he will reach the land of the red planet
What can climate change on Earth teach us about climate change we will cause on Mars?
Pick rocks on Mars to bring to Earth