Chinese spacecraft enters orbit around Mars

A Chinese craft entered orbit of Mars on Wednesday on a mission to land a rover and collect data on underground water and possible signs of ancient life, state media said.

"China's probe Tianwen-1 successfully entered orbit around Mars on Wednesday after a nearly seven-month voy from Earth," Xinhua News ncy said in a brief report.

orbiter-rover combination became second craft in two days to reach red planet, after an orbiter from United Arab Emirates led way on Tuesday.

Next week, U.S. will try to land its Perseverance rover on Martian surface. Only U.S. has successfully touched down on Mars - eight times, beginning with two Viking missions.

Im credit: AP