On Feb 10, 2021, China’s probe, Tianwen-1, reached Mars and achieved orbit.
Officially, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) is in charge of the mission.
They are the sixth to arrive, joining the United States, the Soviet Union, the European Space Agency, India, and the United Arab Emirates.
The probe is a combination orbiter, with a lander/rover duo that was launched in the middle of a Covid crisis, on July 23, last year.
The plan is to land the 530-lb. (240 kg) solar-powered rover on Mars sometime in May or June, depending on surface conditions.
Tianwen translates to Heavenly Questions, and it comes from a classical Chinese poem written by Qu Yuan (around 340–278 BCE).
It’s China’s first independent mission to space.
They attempted to reach Mars in 2011, with Yinghuo-1, on a joint mission with Russia. But they never made it out of Earth orbit, and Yinghuo-1 crashed and burned with the Russian probe.
The planned orbit during the first stage of the mission will be oval-shaped and will circle Mars by crossing both poles. (265 km × 12,000 km).
Mars is the closest planet to Earth and it’s also the one most like us, so it’s the perfect target for space exploration.
It’s 292 million miles (470 million kilometers) away from us, and it’s also further away from the sun than we are.
The order of planets in our solar system starting from the sun is Mercury, (Pluto, we used to call it a planet), Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and then the possible Planet Nine (more to come in another story).
Name the Tianwen Rover
The Lunar Exploration and Space Engineering Center, part of the China National Space Administration (CNSA) is inviting the public to help with the selection of a name for their rover.
They’ve recently announced a list of 10 names to choose from.
Each name is from Chinese mythological figures, Confucian concepts, and legendary animals.
Hongyi, (Confucian): persistence or perseverance
Zhurong: a god of fire
Qilin: a Chinese unicorn
Chitu: red rabbit
Qiusuo: to explore, a reference from an ancient poem
Zhuimeng: to pursue a dream
Nezha: a mythological hero
Fenghuolun: Nezha’s weapons
Tianxing: refers to the motion of celestial bodies
Xinghuo: spark
They will announce the name just before the landing date.
When it’s time, the lander/rover duo will detach from the orbiter and make its way to land on a site in Utopia Planitia.
Utopia Planitia is a large plain in the Northern Hemisphere of Mars.
The official Chinese Space News reported landing coordinates of 110.318 degrees E longitude and 24.748 degrees N latitude. This information has since been removed from the site.
After landing, the rover plans to perform many standardized tests.
Surface soil, water/ice distribution, and rock analysis are the usual tasks a rover performs after landing on a moon or a planet.
The Tianwen-1 rover carries a Subsurface Exploration Radar instrument and multispectral cameras and instruments for analysis.
The rover is expected to operate for 90 Martian days.
A Martian day is about 40 minutes longer than an Earth day.
The Tianwen-1 is one of a small fleet of probes launched last year.
They have all successfully reached Mars this month.
The probe from the United Arab Emirates ‘Hope’ reached Mars on Feb 9, 2021, and will remain in orbit, while the United States ‘Perseverance’ lands on Feb. 18, 2021.
The U.S. rover will be carrying a helicopter, the Ingenuity, which will deploy from the belly of the rover, on the surface of Mars. It's solar-powered, with a battery assist, and is capable of short flights of up to 980 feet (300 meters) at a time.
This copter will be the first powered flight in the thin Martian air. Its mission and goals are separate from the Mars mission, and it has a set of goals specific to flying an autonomous aircraft on the planet.
"Survive launch, cruise to Mars, and landing on the Red Planet.
Deploy safely to the Martian surface from the belly pan of the Perseverance rover and unfold from its stowed position correctly.
Keep warm (autonomously) through the intensely cold Martian nights (as frigid as minus 130 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 90 degrees Celsius).
Charge (autonomously) using its solar panel.
Confirm communications with the rover and flight operators on Earth.
Spin up its rotor blades for the first time (to a speed below what would be needed for flight).
Liftoff for the first time in the thin Martian atmosphere.
Ere creation, who could tell All the changes that befell? What strange arts can be employed To know what passed when all was void? Ere light and darkness merged in space, Who can fathom what took place? Things impalpable that swarmed, Who can tell how they were formed? How can it be that day and light Can be born of dark and night? Female power, power male, By what force did they prevail? Vast the firmament nine-sphered, By what craftsman was it reared? Who conceived a scheme so grand? What was the creator’s hand That great axle could suspend? Whereon does the dome depend? Whereon are earth’s pillars set? Why slopes down the Southeast yet? Whereon are the nine spheres rolled? What divisions do they hold? Who the planets’ course defines? Or who chose the zodiac signs? Set the sun and moon on high? Constellations hung nearby? From the east rides up the sun, In the west its course is done; From pale dawn till all is black, Who can measure out its track? Say what virtue has the moon, That it wanes then waxes soon? Of what service is its toad? What the gift on it bestowed? Whence did she, all mates denied, Get the nine sons by her side? Whence come pestilence and bane? Whence the air that keeps men sane? Who binds up the sun at night, Lets it out to shed its light? Tell me how the sprite of rain Causes showers to fall amain? How is it the whirlwind sprite Races like a stag in flight? How can mountains carried be By tortoises beneath the sea? How, when these were lured away, Still floating did the mountains stay? How were the nine continents laid, Stream beds sunk and valleys made? Why, since all streams eastward go, Do no oceans overflow? North and south, are they as far As east and west divided are? Hanging gardens hover fair, What supports them in the air? Who can measure them aright? What the nine-tiered Kunlun’s height? Who defends its portals great What wind passed the Northwest Gate? Is there any place at all Where the sun’s rays never fall? In that realm of pitchy night Does the dragon shed his light? Ere the rising of the sun, By what tree is brightness spun? Where does winter seem to blaze, Summer show but chilly days? Stony Forest how to reach, Or the beasts with human speech? Where do savage cobras stay, With nine heads that dart and play? Where the race that never dies? What is it the giants prize? Where does the great flower grow With its nine-hued blooms aglow? Snakes that elephants devour, What must be their size and power? There’s a land with murky streams Where a dark-foot people teems; Since from death they are secure, How long must their lives endure? Whither has the mermaid fled? Griffin too with hoary head? Who shot nine suns from the sky? Where did moulted plumage lie? Who was it that paved the way For the first king to hold sway? Who made the Nu Wa, once a snake, Every hour new features take? Shun by music won the field, Forced barbarians to yield. How could this have come about? What meat made the tribesmen stout? Why, when Kun had shown no skill, Was he sent the flood to still? Why let the mob this choice decide, And send him out as yet untried? When tortoises his work effaced, Why was Kun the one disgraced? Why, when he might win success, Was he plunged in such distress? How, when sent far off to die, Did he cross the cliffs so high? What witch raised him from the dead To become a bear instead? He bade men sow millet seeds, Clear the undergrowth and weeds; Why was banishment his fate? Why did he incur men’s hate? Three years in the feathered hill, Dead, he stayed unrotted still. From Kun’s loins great Yu did spring; Was he destined change to bring? Kun’s task fell to Yu his son, In his work success he won; But what was his different plan When his labours he began? Heavy floods had swept the plain, How did he the water drain? Nine great mountains stood upright; How did he rear up their height? What chart did the dragon draw To lead rivers to the shore? Whence the dragon with no horn On whose back the bear was borne? What great task did Kun begin? What successes did Yu win? And why did the warrier grim Tilt the earth’s southeastern rim? God sent Yu to earth below, Bitter trials to undergo; Why should he with mountain maid In soft dalliance have stayed? Offspring of their union came: Why did they think lust no shame? Chi usurped the throne of Yi, Killed his former enemy; All his former failures past, How did he succeed at last? Why could Prince Yi not prevail, Why was he condemned to fail? Proper reverence Chi showed, Sacrificed with dance and ode; His mother turned to stone one morn; How then was their infant born? Heaven sent down the Archer King To drive out each evil thing. Why shoot the God? What was his pride, Or hope to make the nymph his bride? With huge bow and arrows keen He shot boars in the ravine. Was the Heavenly Emperor wroth At his sacrifice of broth? When his concubine and slave Planned to kill the Archer brave, Why did he deserve defeat? And his flesh why did they eat? The rainbow maiden, is it true That she was his consort too? Whence did she the elixir steal? And why not herself steal? Great Nature’s laws all change defy, Life runs its course and all must die. How was the slayer, executed, Transformed into a bird which hooted? Why did Chiao lead a wanton life? Why should he seek his brother’s wife? And who was it let loose his hound, And smote Chiao’s head down to the ground? The wicked whore his garments made, The guilty pair together stayed. Whose hand at last the woman slew? How did she meet disaster too? Why did the slave, rebellious then, Show kindness to the Archer’s men? When hostile vessels Chiao capsized, How was his stratagem devised? When Chieh quelled the mountain men, What two women found he then? Wherefore did his queen betray him? Why should Tang atempt to slay him? Offering a cup of jade, Sacrifice to God he made. As King of Hsia he ruled so long, Why was he subdued by Tang? When God came to scan the earth, And discerned a man of worth, What was Chieh’s punishment? Were the people well content? Had the prince some secret power To tempt the princess in the tower? The phoenix brought two eggs to earth: Did this cause the virgin birth? Shun was married. Why should he Always know as wifeless be? Why did Yao two girls present, Nor obtain his sire’s consent? Shun had lent his brother aid, Yet a plot the traitor laid. Why should one so like a beast Not have suffered in the least? Coveting his brother’s wife, He conspired to take Shun’s life. Why should his posterity Know such great prosperity? King Hai, like his sire humane, Lost his cattle and was slain. How were cowherds to him led? Who destroyed him on the bed? Heng his brother had a herd But, unlike King Hai, he erred. Why did he seek selfish gain, Nor avenge his brother slain? When Wei learned his wicked ways, Yi’s land fell on evil days. Why did he give rain to lust, When his foes lay in the dust? Tang went to an eastern land, All the realm of Hsin he scanned. An able man was all he sought, Why was a helpmate to him brought? By a stream that gently wound, In a tree a child was found. Why was he believed a knave? Given to the bride as slave? Who can tell the fault of Tang, That he was imprisoned long? What coercion could compel One so reluctant to rebel? As Tang’s man Yi Yin began, Left him to become Chieh’s man: But when back to Tang he came, Why did he attain such fame? Why did the last king of Shang Listen to the slandering throng? How did men foresee his fall? Who raised up his tower tall? Why should loyal men be slain, Flatterers rewards obtain? Why should holy sages two Such divergent paths pursue? One feigned madness, saved his life; One was butchered with the knife. How did all men meet that day? Why flocked birds of plumage grey? The Duke of Chou, though loath to fight, Quelled with ease the foeman’s might. Why did Heaven bestow so long Kingship on the House of Shang? What transgression caused Shang’s fall? Why rose up his subjects all? Who led troops in their attack, Beat the enemy forces back? Though the first-born, little Ji, Won his father’s enmity, Why to avert his sacrifice, Did birds shield him on the ice? How did he, an archer then, Live to be a chief of men? If he angered God on high, How did he win prosperity? King Wen, in cowherd’s costume clad, Had herded cattle as a lad. How did his influence extend Till Shang was conquered in the end? What made aupporters rally still When he moved up upon the hill? Why should men blame the king of Shang, Whose passion for his wife was so strong? Mincemeat was made of King Wen’s son, Wen prayed that vengeance should be done; How did his angry prayers and hate Move Heaven at last to seal Shang’s fate? Finding the butcher in the throng, Why did Wen smile to hear his song? Why should King Wu have sighed that day When slain his adversary lay? And when to join the fight he sped, Why did he bear his father dead? Cheo hanged himself to escape disgrace, Was it for fear he veiled his face? Did Heaven decree that this be done? Or why are kingdoms lost or won? King Chao upon a journey went, For southern regions he was bent. But could the army prosper, say, That met white peasants on the way? Mu was a grasping monarch too, Why did he rove the whole world through? He toured his realm from east to west: What was the object of his quest? What was the merchandise so rare, Sold by the stranger at the fair? By whom was King Yiu’s blood spilt? Why was his favourite charged with guilt? Idly mortals’ fates are spelt, Life or death are idly dealt. The duke was made the baron’s head, Till an assassin struck him dead. Did Peng find favour in God’s eyes For pheasant broth as sacrifice? And if he lived eight hundred years, What reason did he have for tears? Does Heaven decree that states shall fight? Why do small things possess such might? Two princes lived on herbs alone, Till scoffed by a maid unknown; But how then, as they wandered here, Were they both suckled by a deer? North to the stream they made their way, What joy did meeting hold that day? What looked the prince with envious eyes? His brother’s hound why should he prize? He offered chariots in its stead, But at the last he lost his head. Two princes sought a southern sky, Why did they their country fly? How did the young prince, exiled long, Win great renown when he was strong? Where did the young prince lie concealed, Who later quelled us on the field? And how did she, the wanton one, Give birth to a heroic son? A brother struck the monarch down, How, guilty, could he win renown? Returning now with grief I sigh, As lightning cleaves the evening sky. No prayers to Heaven can avail, If our self-respect should fail. Proud kings are all on conquest bent; If they repent, I’ll rest content.
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