China names its Mars mission Tianwen-1 ahead of its planned launch this year

China on Friday named its first Mars exploration mission to be launched later this year as Tianwen-1 as it celebrated “ Day” to mark 50th anniversary of launch of country’s first satellite Dong Fang Hong-1 in 1970. Aiming to catch up with India, US, Russia and European Union to reach red planet, China’s Mars mission plans to complete orbiting, landing and roving in one mission.

China National ministration (CNSA) named Mars mission as "Tianwen," which means Heavenly Questions or Questions to Heaven, a poem written by China’s well kwn poet Qu Yuan (340-278 BC). In "Tianwen," Qu Yuan raised a series of questions in verse involving sky, stars, natural phemena, myths and real world, showing his doubts about some tritional concepts and spirit of seeking truth.

CNSA said all of China's planetary exploration missions in future will be named Tianwen series, signifying Chinese nation's perseverance in pursuing truth and science and exploring nature and universe, state-run Xinhua news ncy reported.

China in recent years has emerged as a major power with manned missions and landing a rover in dark side of moon. It is currently building a station of its own. However, China’s attempts to send an exploratory probe to Mars called Yinghuo-1, in a Russian craft in 2011 failed as shortly after launch and it was declared lost and later burnt during re-entry.

US, Russia, EU besides India so far succeeded in sending missions to Mars regarded as most complex mission. India became first Asian country to have successfully launched its Mars orbiter mission, Mangalyaan which has entered orbit of red planet in 2014. India also became first country to have entered Martian orbit in its first attempt. Last year China conducted a key experiment to land a rover on Mars. test was carried out in simulated conditions.

experiment was held on a trial ground, largest in Asia for test landing on extra-terrestrial bodies. Commenting on experiment Ye Peijian, chief scientist for country's science and deep missions told official media in vember last year that China's mission to Mars includes an orbiting craft, landing craft and a detachable rover to roam Martian surface, all in one mission.

"If we succeed, this will mark a first in world's Mars expedition history," he said.

How to safely land on Mars is one of biggest challenges facing mission, he said. experiment simulated gravity of Mars, about one-third of gravity on Earth, to test design of lander. Greeting China’s scientists on Day, President Xi Jinping said he expected aero workers to speed up construction of a powerful industry. Xi pointed out that matter how conditions change, spirit of self-reliance and hard work should t be lost.

In new era, workers in aero sector should follow example set by elder scientists to bravely overcome difficulties and obstacles to furr develop science and techlogy. China successfully launched its first satellite Dong Fang Hong-1 on April 24, 1970, marking beginning of nation's exploration of universe and outer . Since 2016, China has set April 24 as country's Day.