Mars has been subject to many panoramic shots lately. First NASA’s Curiosity rover celebrated its nine years on mars with a panoramic image of the Gale Crater. Now, China’s Zhurong rover has captured the sandy scene on Mars in Utopia Planitia.
Zhurong, part of the China National Space Administration’s Tianwen-1 Mars mission, is making observations of a broad plains region. CNSA posted an image showing the rover’s solar panels. The landscape is full of small rocks, and some sand dunes can also be seen on the right side of the panorama.
Zhurong exceeding expectations
Zhurong managed to last on the Red Planet more than the space agency expected. The rover will now embark on an extended mission where it will continue work across Utopia Planitia. The Chinese space agency announced the extension of the mission earlier this month. The rover has traveled nearly 3,500 feet (1,064 m) since its arrival in May.
Speaking of the Tainwen-1 mission, it comprises an orbiter, a lander, and the Zhurong rover. The rover’s presence on Mars has increased the tally of active Mars rovers to three. The other two are NASA’s Curiosity and Perseverance that are exploring other parts of the planet in search of ancient microbial life.
Race to Mars getting fierce
Besides, the Japanese space agency JAXA is also planning to bring Mars soil samples to Earth, with the aim to find clues to the planet’s origin and signs of life. The agency will be launching an explorer in 2024 that will land on Martian moon Phobos to collect 10g of soil and bring it back by 2029.
In a new study, scientists have warned of issues astronauts can face while traveling to Mars. They suggested some measures to deal with safety issues, and it could include strategically picking the best time to travel.
“This study shows that while space radiation imposes strict limitations and presents technological difficulties for the human mission to Mars, such a mission is still viable,” reads the paper published in the journal Space Weather. The paper has simulations that indicate the right time to travel to the Red Planet.
