On June 11, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) released the first images of Mars captured by the Zhurong rover from the Tianwen-1 spacecraft.
These images were unveiled during a special celebration in Beijing. Among them are panoramic photos of the landing site, along with several images showcasing the Martian landscape and horizon.
“The release of this first series of scientific images marks the success of our first Mars exploration mission,” stated the CNSA.
Panoramic image of the landing site. (Photo: CNSA).
A 360-degree panoramic view of the landing site on Mars was captured by a terrain camera mounted on the rover’s antenna. These images reveal that the surface near the landing site is relatively flat.
Martian landscape. (Photo: CNSA).
On June 11, the Zhurong rover marked its 28th sol on Mars (a sol is a solar day on Mars). This rover has an operational lifespan of 90 sols.
Landing platform. (Photo: CNSA).
Selfie of the Zhurong rover (left) and the landing platform. (Photo: CNSA).
The Tianwen-1 probe, which includes an orbiter, a lander, and the Zhurong rover, was launched on July 23, 2020, and successfully entered Mars’ landing orbit. On May 15, this spacecraft safely landed in the Utopia Plain region on the Martian surface. The mission aims to study the atmosphere, surface geological features, and magnetic characteristics of Mars.
