(CNSA)
The Chinese National Space Administration – CNSA announced the extension of the scientific program of the Zhurong rover
The vehicle has recently successfully completed the main phase of its work on Mars, designed for 90 sols.
The rover will continue towards the southern part of the Utopia Plain, exploring the planet's surface layer.
The first Chinese Mars rover was delivered to the Utopia plain this spring as part of the Tianwen-1 mission, which also includes an orbiter and a landing platform.
The six-wheeled rover is powered by solar panels and is equipped with cameras, ground penetrating radar, spectrometer and weather sensors.
On August 15, 2021, the CNSA announced that the rover had completed its main phase of operation on Mars, calculated for 90 Martian days (sols).
During this time, the rover traveled 889 meters and took many images of Mars, as well as data on the weather and structure of the surface layer of the planet.
In addition, the rover managed to take a selfie, find its parachute and record the sounds of the planet.
Zhurong will now engage in Mars exploration as part of an extended scientific program and will continue to move towards the southern part of the Utopia Plain.
From mid-September to the end of October this year, communication with the rover and the orbiter will be interrupted due to the upper conjunction of Mars (when the Sun is between Mars and Earth).
Then, they will continue to work.
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