China’s Tainwen-1 probe maps Mars after orbiting over 1,300 times; see pictures here

China National Space ministration (CNSA), on Wednesday, announced that its Tianwen-1 mission orbiter has mapped entire Mars and has beamed back stunning images in process. According to Chinese space agency, orbiter’s images were captured when it circled red planet 1,344 times ever since it entered Martian orbit in February 2021. Notably, Tianwen-1 was China’s inaugural mission to Mars and it included a combination of an orbiter, a lander and a rover named Zhurong, god of fire in Chinese mythology. 

What did Tianwen-1 orbiter see?

While orbiting Mars since last February, orbiter has photographed its north pole along with a number of canyons, craters and volcanos scattered across red planet. Tianwen-1 image below, for instance, was shared by CNSA and features  Ascraeus Mons shield volcano which spans 18 kilometres across. In dition to this, orbiter has also beamed back pictures of Martian south pole which is considered to be a hotspot of planet's water resources. 

(Ascraeus Mons shield volcano; Image: CNSA)

next picture shows part of Mars' south pole which was also an area orbiter extensively studied. Scientists believe that this location houses water, a component that reflects a planet's potential to harbor life. 

(Part of Mars' south pole; Image: CNSA)

Among or intriguing pictures sent by Orbiter includes that of Arabia Terra, which is a large upland and is battered with impact craters. Scientists say that craters are great for determining planet's age and terrains here are believed to be one of oldest on Mars. 

(Arabia Terra region on Mars; Image; CNSA)

(Tianwen-1's high-resolution imagery of  91-km-long Maunder crater)

China's success with Tianwen-1

With successful touchdown of Tianwen-1 mission, China established itself as a country that landed a rover on red planet on its maiden attempt. mission was launched on July 23, 2020, aboard a Long March 5 Y-4 carrier rocket from Wenchang Space Launch Centre and arrived at its destination last February after travelling 475 million kilometres. Following its arrival, probe released rover-carrying lander three months later and it touched down on Mars in May last year. 

Ever since landing, Zhurong rover has travelled over two kilometres on Mars. According to CNSA, rover is currently in hibernation mode due to Martian winter and will resume its operations during Martian spring in December.