The rover, named after the Chinese god of fire, is being used by the Chinese agency to examine Martian soil and atmosphere, take pictures, create maps, and search for water and evidence of past life. The rover is equipped with a variety of equipment and can communicate with Earth via the Tianwen-1 orbiter's "high-speed data relay."

The China National Space Administration released five new photographs of Mars on Friday, featuring rocks on the Martian surface and the vehicle's tire tracks, obtained by its Zhurong rover.

The first image, shot on June 26, shows the Martian terrain as the rover explores Utopia Planitia, a large northern lava plain on Mars, with what looks to be the surface component detector and the climate detector from the rover. And the second image, taken on July 4, the rover's 48th day on Mars, shows the Martian surface as well.

Moreover, the third and fourth shots reveal rocks on the ground, as well as what appear to be rover tire tracks.

Tire tracks, as well as the rover's solar panels and antenna, are visible in the final color image.

Given that China's space agency has remained tight-lipped about Zhurong's plans, this image release comes as news for the Chinese Tianwen-1 mission on the Red Planet, since not many photos were shared with the general public after the rover successfully landed on Utopia Planitia, a huge northern lava plain on Mars on May 15.

In July 2020, it launched from Earth aboard China's Tianwen-1 spacecraft, which had entered Martian orbit in February. To date, Zhurong has been on Mars for 54 days and has walked over 300 meters, according to Xinhua news agency.

During its stay on Mars, Zhurong has been heading south and conducting detections, as well as taking photographs of the Martian landscape with its navigation camera. It has conducted scientific research using its surface-search radar, weather monitor, and magnetic field detector tools.

On May 22, the rover Zhurong drove down to the Martian surface from its landing platform, beginning its study of the red planet and making China the second country after the US to land and operate a rover on Mars.

In the meantime, while Zhurong investigates Utopia Planitia, NASA's Perseverance rover is investigating the Jezero crater, which may also be home to ancient life.

China's Mars rover travels over 400 meters
China's Mars rover Zhurong has traveled more than 400 meters on the surface of the red planet, according to the Lunar Exploration and Space Program Center of the China National Space Administration on Monday.

The orbiter of Tianwen-1 mission has worked normally in orbit for 353 days as of 8:00 pm Sunday (Beijing Time). The distance between Earth and Mars is 370.7 million km.

The rover has traveled 410.025 meters and worked normally, the center said.

China's Tianwen-1 mission, consisting of an orbiter, a lander, and a rover, was launched on July 23, 2020. The lander carrying the rover touched down in the southern part of Utopia Planitia, a vast plain in the northern hemisphere of Mars, on May 15.

Related Links
China National Space Agency
Mars News and Information at MarsDaily.com
Lunar Dreams and more

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Video, audio clips shed light on historic Mars mission
Beijing (XNA) Jun 28, 2021
China made public on Sunday several video clips captured by the country's Tianwen 1 Mars mission, including one with an audio recording that is the first to be released from this historic interplanetary expedition. The clips, released by the China National Space Administration, recorded the processes of the Mars touchdown by Tianwen 1's landing capsule, the Zhurong rover's departure from the capsule, and its movement on the Red Planet's soil. They also provide the first opportunity for people arou ... read more

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