At Mars, China’s Tianwen 1 orbiter and Zhurong rover are back in action after a radio blackout
[ad_1]
China’s Tianwen 1 orbiter and Zhurong rover are once again active at Mars following a communications blackout caused by the sun interfering with radio signals sent from Earth.
Tianwen 1 and Zhurong had been in standby mode for about a month, since mid-September. With the Earth and Mars orbiting at opposite sides of the sun and all three bodies almost perfectly aligned, communications with the Red Planet were effectively blocked by interference from our star’s charged particles.
The China Lunar Exploration announced (Chinese) on Thursday (Oct. 21) that the orbiter and rover had reestablished communications and resumed science and exploration activities.
Related: China’s Mars rover Zhurong just snapped an epic self-portrait on the Red Planet (photos)
Both Tianwen 1 and Zhurong are active sooner than first anticipated, as the spacecraft were expected to be beyond the reach of communications until the end of October. This estimate was likely conservative as this was the first time China has operated Mars spacecraft during a once-every-26-month solar conjunction. (Tianwen 1 is China’s first Red Planet mission.)
Zhurong had covered a total of 3,878 feet (1,182 meters) before going on standby for the solar conjunction, Sun Zezhou, Tianwen 1 chief designer with the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST), told Chinese media earlier this month. Zhurong landed in Utopia Planitia on May 14 and rolled onto the surface a week later, having remained in orbit since February after Tianwen 1 arrived at Mars.
Zhurong also returned a panoramic view of its surroundings ahead of going on standby, showing the area it will be exploring.
Things will be changing for both Tianwen 1 and Zhurong in the coming weeks. In early November, the orbiter will end its role as a dedicated relay satellite for Zhurong, since the rover has completed its primary mission. Tianwen 1 has been passing over Zhurong’s position once every Martian day, or sol, to relay data from the rover to Earth, but it will now shift its orbit to begin global mapping and analysis of the Martian surface and subsurface with its suite of seven science instruments.
While Tianwen 1 will still provide relay services, a European satellite could also step in to help transmit Zhurong’s data across hundreds of millions of miles of space. The European Space Agency’s (ESA) Mars Express, which launched in 2003, is planning to perform a set of five tests with Zhurong in November.
Mars Express will attempt to receive data from Zhurong and then retransmit the information to Earth, James Godfrey, Mars Express spacecraft operations manager at ESA, told Space.com. However, Mars Express won’t be able to send commands to Zhurong, as the rover’s message-sending capabilities are limited to channels that Mars Express can’t monitor.
In the meantime, Zhurong will continue its journey south from the landing platform that safely delivered it to the surface.
A new paper published in Earth and Planetary Science Letters on geomorphologic exploration targets led by Ye Binlong of the University of Hong Kong) and Qian Yuqi of the China University of Geosciences identifies fascinating targets for analysis by Zhurong. These include mud volcanoes and features that may have been formed by movements of subsurface water and ice.
Zhurong’s ground-penetrating radar is expected to provide “fundamentally new perspectives” on potential subsurface Martian water ice, the authors claim. Underground water would not only have implications for potential life, but would also be a strategic natural resource for future crewed Mars exploration. NASA’s Perseverance rover is also looking for water reserves under the Martian surface using its own ground-penetrating radar.
A preprint science paper about Zhurong’s progress so far reveals that the rover has been covering covering on average about 33 ft (10 meters) and up to 66 ft (20 meters) per sol for the first 60 sols, depending on terrain and science tasks, also detailing the route planning and autonomous drive aspects of Zhurong’s operations.
The paper also reveals some of the features in the landing area and rocks showing evidence of being weathered. Expect Zhurong to continue returning new images, findings and science data as it makes quick progress south.
Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook.
[ad_2]
Original Post
I delight in, lead to I found exactly what I used to be having a look for. You have ended my 4 day lengthy hunt! God Bless you man. Have a great day. Bye
Together with the whole thing which seems to be building throughout this particular area, all your opinions are actually quite radical. Even so, I beg your pardon, because I do not give credence to your whole strategy, all be it exciting none the less. It appears to everyone that your comments are actually not completely validated and in actuality you are generally your self not even entirely convinced of your point. In any case I did enjoy reading it.
I do not even know the way I finished up right here, but I assumed this put up was once good. I don’t recognize who you are however definitely you’re going to a famous blogger if you happen to are not already 😉 Cheers!
I like this web blog very much, Its a very nice billet to read and obtain info .
I like this blog its a master peace ! Glad I detected this on google .
Thank you for the good writeup. It in fact was once a leisure account it. Look complicated to far brought agreeable from you! By the way, how could we be in contact?
Hi! Someone in my Facebook group shared this site with us so I came to check it out. I’m definitely loving the information. I’m bookmarking and will be tweeting this to my followers! Wonderful blog and superb design.
Dead indited articles, thankyou for entropy.
Youre so cool! I dont suppose Ive learn anything like this before. So nice to search out somebody with some authentic ideas on this subject. realy thank you for starting this up. this website is something that’s needed on the internet, someone with just a little originality. helpful job for bringing something new to the internet!
Very interesting details you have remarked, thankyou for putting up.
Your place is valueble for me. Thanks!…
I really like your blog.. very nice colors & theme. Did you make this website yourself or did you hire someone to do it for you? Plz reply as I’m looking to design my own blog and would like to find out where u got this from. many thanks
I truly appreciate this post. I have been looking all over for this! Thank goodness I found it on Bing. You have made my day! Thx again
obviously like your website however you need to test the spelling on quite a few of your posts. Many of them are rife with spelling issues and I to find it very bothersome to tell the reality nevertheless I will definitely come again again.
I’m really impressed with your writing skills as well as with the layout on your weblog. Is this a paid theme or did you modify it yourself? Anyway keep up the excellent quality writing, it is rare to see a great blog like this one nowadays..
I truly appreciate your work, Great post.
I have recently started a web site, the information you offer on this web site has helped me tremendously. Thank you for all of your time & work.
There is obviously a bundle to realize about this. I think you made some nice points in features also.
Thanx for the effort, keep up the good work Great work, I am going to start a small Blog Engine course work using your site I hope you enjoy blogging with the popular BlogEngine.net.Thethoughts you express are really awesome. Hope you will right some more posts.
Lovely blog! I am loving it!! Will come back again. I am bookmarking your feeds also.
you have a great blog here! would you like to make some invite posts on my blog?
Rattling clear web site, thanks for this post.
Loving the info on this internet site, you have done great job on the blog posts.
Hello, you used to write magnificent, but the last several posts have been kinda boringK I miss your tremendous writings. Past few posts are just a little out of track! come on!
Keep up the excellent work, I read few articles on this internet site and I conceive that your site is really interesting and holds lots of excellent information.
WONDERFUL Post.thanks for share..extra wait .. …
This web site is my breathing in, very good design and style and perfect subject material.
Would love to always get updated great site! .
Everyone loves what you guys are up too. This kind of clever work and coverage! Keep up the excellent works guys I’ve you guys to my blogroll.
You really make it seem really easy with your presentation but I find this topic to be really something which I believe I would by no means understand. It seems too complicated and extremely broad for me. I’m taking a look forward to your next post, I¦ll attempt to get the dangle of it!
Java Burn: What is it? Java Burn is marketed as a natural weight loss product that can increase the speed and efficiency of a person’s natural metabolism, thereby supporting their weight loss efforts
What is ZenCortex? ZenCortex is a cutting-edge dietary supplement meticulously crafted to provide essential nutrients that support and enhance healthy hearing
Its good as your other articles : D, appreciate it for posting.