By 
May 22nd, 2021
Credit: CNSA
China’s Zhurong Mars rover is now down and dirty on the Red Planet. The six-wheeled solar-powered rover has slowly trundled off a ramp on the lander to hit the red, sandy soil of Mars, starting its journey to explore the fourth planet from the sun.
The China National Space Administration (CNSA) has stated that according to the telemetry data, Zhurong set its wheels on Martian soil at 10:40 am (Beijing Time) on Saturday.
Artwork depicts China’s Zhurong Mars rover rolling off lander.
Credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
The nearly 530-pound (240 kilogram) robot is now exploring the southern part of Utopia Planitia, a vast plain on the northern hemisphere of Mars. The rover has an expected lifespan of at least 90 Martian days, equal to about three months on Earth.
China’s Mars rover. Credit: Zou Yongliao, et al.
Mobility on Mars
According to China’s Xinhua news service, compared to the country’s Moon rover design, Yutu (Jade Rabbit), Zhurong has a similar speed of about 200 meters per hour, but the height of the obstacles it can surmount increased from 20 centimeters to 30 centimeters. It can climb slopes up to 20 degrees. Zhurong’s six wheels are independently driven, according to its designers.
Relying on an active suspension system, the rover can move itself like an inchworm on the complicated Martian surface with both loose sandy soil and densely distributed rocks, said Jia Yang, deputy chief designer of the Tianwen 1 probe, from the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST). Zhurong can also walk sideways like a crab. Each of its six wheels can turn in any direction, which could be used for avoiding obstacles and climbing slopes.
Credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
Comprehensive coverage
According to a China Central Television (CCTV) video, part of the power generated by the solar panels during the daytime will be used for work, and the rest will be stored in batteries for night use. In addition, the designers installed heat collection windows on the rover, which could absorb solar energy in the daytime and release heat at night to help the rover survive the freezing temperatures which could plunge to over 100 degrees Celsius below zero before dawn.
Zhang Yuhua, deputy chief commander, Tianwen-1 probe, Eighth Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation told CCTV: “The reason why we need eight days is that the rover needs to capture the clear images of the area where it will touch down. If the assessment came out to be no difficulties, risk-free and safe, we will decide which way to go for the guide rail on the lander, which can stretch to this direction or this direction.”
Credit: Weibo wlr2678
The real Mars-orbiting exploration starts only after the three-month relay communications completes, Zhang said. “We hope we could have a comprehensive covering of Martian topography, landform and environment, and the exploratory data of the radar detecting the Martian subsurface during one Martian year. By doing so, our country will have our own abundant and first-hand data about Martian resources.”
Video resources
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 on May 15. The orbiter, with a design life of one Martian year (about 687 days on Earth), will relay communications for the rover while conducting its own scientific agenda.
Go to this CCTV video at: https://youtu.be/-dmfvzqusyY
Also, go to New China TV and GLOBALink videos at:
Posted in Space News
