China’s Tianwen-1 Mars probe hits 100 million kilometers mark

By Deng Xiaoci Source: Global Times Published: 2020/8/28 10:18:21

China successfully launched its first Mars probe, named Tianwen-1, via a Long March-5 Y4 carrier rocket from Wenchang Space Launch Center in South China's Hainan Province into planned orbit on July 23. Photo: Guo Wenbin/Our Space


 
China’s Tianwen-1 Mars probe has made it 100 million kilometers into its journey as of Friday at 10:08 am, 36 days after its take-off from Wenchang Space Launch Center in South China’s Hainan Province via a Long March-5 carrier rocket, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) said.
 
The Chinese spacecraft is heading toward Mars in steady flight form and in a sound and normal working condition.
 
Tianwen-1 is now 10.75 million kilometers away from Earth.
 
According to experts from the CNSA, Tianwen-1 will be some 195 million kilometers from Earth when it reaches Mars, and the actual flight distance is around 470 million kilometers.
 
So far, Tianwen-1 has accomplished a series of missions including taking and sending back a unique picture of Earth and the Moon as it heads for Mars, and completing its first orbital correction and self-examination of payloads onboard.
 
Next, the spacecraft will execute further orbital corrections and deep space maneuvers, and carry out capture, landing and roving missions when it approaches the Mars orbit, CNSA said in a statement sent to the Global Times on Friday


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