Tag: Mars Exploration

#CNSA #ChinaNationalSpaceAdministration #國家航天局 |#BeltAndRoadinitiative #March2022 | #火星 # 天問 #天问一号#TianwenOne #MarsMission #Marslander #MarsRover #Tianwen1 probe  #祝融号 #ZhuRong #Tianwen1 returned high-resolution images of the Mars inspection area…..

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On the months of March 2022  the week of 20th March 2022   天问一号飞運騎遊達达3亿CNSA – China National Space Administration – ESA – European Space agency Belt and road initiative mars mission…first Mars exploration mission, Tianwen- Martian Probe One  sent back stunning images of the Half Earth Mass size of the Rustic Planet Mars in which show stunning Martian landscape with its iconic polar caps of either southern or northern .. With its timeless Stunning Mars Photography. Tianwen-1″ returned high-resolution images of the Mars inspection area

Figure 1 The image of the inspection area of ​​”Zhurong” taken by a high-resolution camera

 A few days ago, the “Tianwen No. 1” orbiter passed over the inspection area of ​​the Mars rover again, and took a 0.5-meter resolution image of the “Zhurong” inspection area. As of March 24, 2022, the “Zhurong” rover has been working on the surface of Mars for 306 Martian days and has traveled 1,784 meters in total. The “Tianwen-1” orbiter has been in orbit for 609 days and is 277 million kilometers away from the earth. Both are operating normally.

(a) Taken on May 19 , 
2021 ( the 
5th
 Martian day after landing ), the surface of the rover is not covered by sand and dust
(b) Taken on 
January 
22 , 
2022 (the 247th

 Martian day 
after landing ), there is obvious dust coverage on the surface of the 
rover
Figure 2 Comparison of images of the rover taken by the Navigation Terrain Camera in different periods

The “Zhurong” rover also sent back selfies from the surface of Mars. Compared with the photos taken just after landing, it can be seen that a thin layer of dust has accumulated on the surface of the rover. At the same time, according to the telemetry information of the rover, the power generation efficiency of the solar wing is affected to a certain extent, but the energy is still sufficient. In order to cope with the dust coverage, the solar wing of the Mars rover has been specially designed, and various measures can be taken to deal with the problem of the reduction of power generation efficiency caused by the sand and dust.

(a) 
Taken at the 
center of the 
 image on January 22 , 2022 ( 30.7 °E, 74.0 ° N )
(b) 
Taken at the center of the image on February 10 , 2022 ( 37.8 ° east longitude , 7 2.9 ° north latitude), a local sandstorm occurred, and the ground objects were difficult to distinguish
 
Fig. 3 Comparison of wind and sand activities in high latitude regions of the Northern Hemisphere captured by medium-resolution cameras

The Martian dust storm will directly affect the energy acquisition of the Mars rover, which has always attracted much attention. The engineering team continued to monitor the Martian sand and dust weather through images obtained by the medium-resolution camera of the “Tianwen-1” orbiter, and found that from late January this year, obvious wind and sand activities began to appear in the area north of 60 ° N latitude on Mars. It can be seen from the figure below that a local sandstorm occurred in this area in February this year, and typical features were covered by a large amount of sand and dust, making it difficult to distinguish.

At present, the northern hemisphere of Mars has begun to enter autumn. According to the analysis of previous detection data, autumn is the season of frequent occurrence of dusty weather on Mars, but no obvious dusty weather has been observed in the inspection area of ​​”Zhurong”.

(a) Taken on March 24 , 2021 , at the center of the image ( 110.2 ° E, 24.6 °N)
(b) Taken on January 30 , 2022 , at the center of the image ( 107.4 ° E longitude , 24.4 ° N latitude )
Figure 4. Medium resolution image of “Zhurong” landing inspection area

The “Tianwen-1” orbiter continues to carry out global remote sensing exploration of Mars, and focuses on typical landforms and geological units such as craters, volcanoes, canyons, and dry riverbeds, and obtains high-resolution images. On March 7 this year, the American “Perseverance” rover was photographed while imaging the “Jezero” crater, which is currently located about 200 meters southeast of its landing site.

Figure 5 The American “Perseverance” rover photographed by “Tianwen-1”

Source Cartography: National Astronomical Observatory -Author: Geng Yan Chen Gang

Images and visuals are from CNSA- China National Space Administration also from there respectives- CLEP –China Lunar Exploration Project..

#CNSA #ChinaNationalSpaceAdministration #国家航天局 |#BeltAndRoadinitiative #March2022 |#TwoSessions #Beijing plans to realize the #Planet #Mars #Change7 #Change8  sampling return mission by 2030 #ASummery

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On the week of 13th March 2022 in  CNSA _China National Space Administration -China – People’s Republic of China……..During the Two Sessions of which was held during in the People’s Hall during the week of 13th March 2022 China – People’s Republic of China CNSA China National Space Administration  and its Partners plans to realize the Mars sampling return mission by 2030] China Daily reported on March 6 that Wu Weiren, member of the Standing Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and chief designer of China’s lunar exploration project, said recently that my country plans to realize the Mars sampling return mission by 2030. The difficulty of the project is much greater than that of lunar sampling and return. The first problem to be solved is to develop a launch vehicle with greater thrust. In the follow-up, China is also preparing to conduct marginal exploration of the solar system. “The sun is about 150 million kilometers from the earth, which is an astronomical unit. We plan to achieve the ‘double hundred’ goal in 2049, that is, on the 100th anniversary of the founding of New China, to complete 100 astronomical units, which is 15 billion kilometers away “Deep space exploration” China plans to realize the Mars sampling return mission by 2030

China will carry on its moon research in the future with Chang’e-6, Chang’e-7 and Chang’e-8 missions by 2030. After 2030, a new set of missions will be carried out to complete the construction of an international lunar research station by 2030….he Chang’e-6 is scheduled to bring back to Earth lunar samples with a mass of up to 2 kilograms; the Chang’e-7 will be tasked with landing on the lunar south pole and detecting local natural resources; and the Chang’e-8, working in collaboration with Chang’e-7, is going to scout how to exploit lunar resources.

According to Wu, the Chang’e-6 and Chang’e-7 are expected to be launched around 2025.

Future missions also include the development of a special craft, which can fly from the landing site to lunar craters to help scientists look for traces of water. If water is present, it could provide resources for future crewed missions on the moon, Wu noted.

After 2030, a new set of missions will be carried out to complete the construction of an international lunar research station by 2035….

“There will be multiple rovers and landers working in the future moon station and a lunar-based communication network to support these spacecraft,” Wu said. “The lunar research station can also function as a transfer outpost for the solar system and even deeper space explorations.”  

Images and visuals are from Weibo also their respectives.

#CNSA #ChinaNationalSpaceAdministration #國家航天局 |#BeltAndRoadinitiative #February2022 | #火星 # 天問 #天问一号#TianwenOne #MarsMission #Marslander #MarsRover #Tianwen1 probe  #祝融号 #ZhuRong Tianwen1 #ChineseNewYear2022 with  #MarsPhotography Tianwen-1 probe #YearoftheTiger  congratulates the grand opening of the #BeijingWinterOlympics#Beijing2022 from Mars

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On the months of January 2022 1st January 2022 on New Years Day  天问一号飞運騎遊達达3亿CNSA – China National Space Administration – ESA – European Space agency Belt and road initiative mars mission…first Mars exploration mission, Tianwen- Martian Probe One  sent back stunning images of the Half Earth Mass size of the Rustic Planet Mars in which show stunning Martian landscape with its iconic polar caps of either southern or northern .. with its timeless Stunning Mars Photography.

On 2022 New Year’s Day, China National Space Administration CLEP – China Lunar Exploration program  issued a set of beautiful images of the first Mars mission Heaven 1 spacecraft returned from distant Mars, report to the National People ‘Heaven One “peace, extended festival greetings .

On the eve on 31st January 2022 in which on the 1st February 2022 of the Chinese Lunar New year Spring Festival in the Year of the Tiger, the Tianwen-1 probe sent back a set of selfie videos from Mars orbit to extend New Year wishes to the people of the whole country- China – People’s Republic of China and the Chinese Communities . On the 29th of the twelfth lunar month last year (February 10, 2021), Tianwen-1 arrived on Mars and successfully implemented capture and braking. It became my country’s first artificial Mars satellite, and started a scientific exploration journey to the red planet. a lunar year.

rews are installing mascots on the Mars lander
 

Also on the 4th February 2022 Sunday the Winter Olympics begin! A blessing “falls from the sky” across 320 million kilometers! Previously, the mascots of the Beijing Winter Olympics and the Winter Paralympics, Bing DunDun and Xue RongRong, landed on Mars on Tianwen-1, and took a group photo with the Zhurong Mars rover, which was a dream ..

Also that Day the Tianwen-1 probe, the five-star red flag and the emblems of the Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympic Games took a selfie in the same frame.

Crews are installing the emblem on the Mars orbiter


Beijing is the first city with both summer and winter Olympics, and Tianwen-1 is China’s first interplanetary exploration mission, sending the mascots and logos of the Winter Olympics and Paralympics to Mars. The Chinese expression is the Chinese nation’s advocacy and pursuit of faster, higher, stronger and more united.

This set of “cosmic-level” photos returned from Mars orbit was taken by the “selfie” camera carried by the Tianwen-1 probe. This group of photos is not only a “highest” Winter Olympics gift to friends on the ground, but also a highlight witness to the world’s shared Olympic moments!

As of February 4th 2022, Tianwen-1 has been in orbit for 561 days, and the Zhurong rover has worked for 259 Martian days, traveling a total of 1,537 meters. Both the orbiter and the rover are in good condition and operating normally. 

Images and visuals are from CNSA- China National Space Administration also from there respectives- CLEP –China Lunar Exploration Project..

#CNSA #ChinaNationalSpaceAdministration #國家航天局 |#BeltAndRoadinitiative #December2021 |#火星 # 天問 #天问一号#TianwenOne #MarsMission #Marslander #MarsRover #Tianwen1 probe  #祝融号 #ZhuRong Tianwen1 # 張榮橋 #ZhangRongqiao, chief designer of China’s first Mars exploration mission, was selected as one of the ten greatest figures of the year in Nature….

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On the months of December 2021  天问一号飞運騎遊達达3亿CNSA – China National Space Administration – ESA – European Space agency Belt and road initiative mars mission…first Mars exploration mission, Tianwen- Martian Probe One …….祝融号Zhu Rong”  Zhang Rongqiao, chief designer of China’s first Mars exploration mission, was selected as one of the ten greatest figures of the year in Nature

At 0:00 on December 16th 2021 Thursday, Hong Kong SAR- Beijing time, the international authoritative scientific magazine “Nature” published the top ten figures of 2021, and Zhang Rongqiao, the chief designer of my country’s first Mars exploration mission, was selected. On May 15, 2021, China’s Mars rover “Tianwen One” successfully landed on the pre-selected landing zone on the surface of Mars. China became the second country in the world to successfully land on Mars and deploy a Mars rover. After the “Zhurong” Mars rover sent back telemetry signals, the flight control center in Beijing lit up a festive red screen, and the engineer excitedly shouted “Hello, Mars!” Zhang Rongqiao took off his glasses silently at this time, tears in his eyes.

The character of the year in “Nature” describes Zhang Rongqiao as “Mars explorer”. Mars is a space nightmare for many countries. So far, the overall success rate is only about 50%, and the success rate for landing missions is only a little over 40%. China’s first Mars exploration mission completed the three major goals of Mars orbiting, landing and patrolling. It is even more difficult and risky. Behind the steadily accomplishing the three goals is the effort to “grind a sword in ten years.” “In order to win today’s first battle, we started planning 10 years ago. We have worked hard for 6 years, held at the launch site for 110 days, and held at the Beijing Aerospace Flight Control Center for 202 days. The first victory was to orbit Mars. After that, I held on for another 93 days to this day. What is the purpose? It is for today’s final victory!” Zhang Rongqiao said excitedly at the flight control center on May 15th.

At a press conference held by the National Space Administration in Beijing on June 12, Zhang Rongqiao said, “Achieving a circumnavigation in one step means that the development is more difficult. To put it more plainly, the possibility of failure increases. For our developers, we can bear it. Zhang Rongqiao said. Fortunately, there is the correct leadership of the Party Central Committee, and there are government organizations at all levels, especially the powerful organization of the National Space Administration, including the Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the launch site and measurement and control The competent departments have vigorously coordinated, and the fire detection research and development personnel have worked hard and overcome difficulties. “To put it more bluntly, it is the fire-detector’s vigor. We succeeded today. Looking back, the choice of this technical route is very correct.” Zhang Rongqiao said that overall it is more cost-effective, especially in terms of technology. It can achieve leapfrog development and make my country enter the world’s advanced ranks in the field of planetary exploration in a relatively short period of time. “Therefore, we said that the first Mars exploration mission was based on China’s national conditions and embarked on a path of aerospace development with Chinese characteristics.”

In the future, China will implement deep space exploration missions such as Mars sampling and return missions, near-Earth asteroid sampling and return and main belt comet orbiting missions, Jupiter system orbiting and planetary crossing missions. “Looking up at the stars and keeping your feet on the ground” are two words that Zhang Rongqiao likes very much. He said: “This is precisely what society needs for each of us, and it is a way for us to settle down in society. We need to stand on the present and look to the future.” Zhang Rongqiao Said: “Our knowledge and understanding of the universe is still very superficial. We should see that the world beyond the cradle is infinitely vast. Innovation never ends.”

The Top Ten People of the Year in Nature are records of important scientific developments and events this year, as well as some of the key figures and their colleagues. The top ten figures were selected by the editors of Nature and gathered individuals who influenced some of the most important scientific events in 2021.

(The original website link https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-03621-0)

#CNSA #ChinaNationalSpaceAdministration #國家航天局 |#BeltAndRoadinitiative #December2021 |#火星 # 天問 #天问一号#TianwenOne #MarsMission #Marslander #MarsRover #Tianwen1 probe  #祝融号 #ZhuRong Tianwen No.1 probe #RedPlanet #Mars The China-Europe Mars Rover successfully carried out an on-orbit relay communication test …..

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On the months of November 2021  天问一号飞運騎遊達达3亿CNSA – China National Space Administration – ESA – European Space agency Belt and road initiative mars mission…first Mars exploration mission, Tianwen- Martian Probe One …….祝融号Zhu Rong”  , China’s “Tianwen One” in cooperation with the European Space Agency “Mars Express” mission team, launched the “Vulcan No.” rover and “Mars Express” orbiter orbit relay communications test and achieved a complete success. Before the test, the respective detectors in both directions must be instructed to make preparations for the test. At the appointed time, the “Zhurong” will send the test data to the “Mars Express”, the communication distance is about 4000 kilometers, and the communication time is 10 minutes. The “Mars Express” receives the data and forwards it to the deep space monitoring and control station of ESA. After receiving the data, the monitoring and control station sends it to the European Space Operations Center (ESOC). The ESOC is then forwarded to the Beijing Aerospace Flight Control Center. After interpretation by the Chinese technical team, Interpret the correctness of the data. The test process is shown in the figure.

Constrained by weight and size, the Mars rover has weak direct-to-ground communication capabilities and cannot meet the demand for large amounts of data transmission. Therefore, the data needs to be sent to the Mars orbiter that is closer, and the orbiter with stronger communication capability is forwarded to the ground receiving system. , This process is called relay communication.

Under normal circumstances, before establishing relay communication, the orbiter will first send an “initiate” signal to the rover, and then the rover will reply with an “confirmation” signal, and then the two parties will establish a stable two-way relay communication link, just like a friend calling The phone needs to be dialled first. Since the launch frequency of the “Mars Express” does not match the receiving frequency of the “Zhurong”, the communication link cannot be established by “dialling a phone”. The transmission frequency of “Zhurong” matches the receiving frequency of “Mars Express”. Therefore, both parties need to agree on a communication time in advance. The “Zhurong” sends data directly and “Mars Express” performs “blind reception”, which is a bit similar to the communication method of WeChat. . The “Mars Express” orbiter has a “blind harvest” function, but there has been no chance to actually use this function for more than a decade.

ESA stated that this test is a good opportunity for the “Mars Express” to verify the “blind harvest” model in orbit. According to the results of data interpretation and analysis, the mission teams of both parties confirmed that the interfaces of the relay communication equipment configured on the “Zhurong” and the “Mars Express” match conform to international standards, and the content of the transmitted data is complete and correct, and the test is a success. In the future, the two parties will further carry out scientific data relay communication cooperation on the basis of this phase of experimentation. The “Zhurong” rover currently works on the surface of Mars for 196 Mars days, has travelled 1,297 meters in total, and obtained about 10GB of raw scientific data for inspections and explorations. It has sufficient energy and is in good condition.

中欧火星探测器成功开展在轨中继通信试验​

2021年11月，我国“天问一号”与欧空局“火星快车”任务团队合作，开展了“祝融号”火星车与“火星快车”轨道器在轨中继通信试验，取得圆满成功。试验前，双方向各自探测器上行指令做好试验准备。在约定时刻，由“祝融号”向“火星快车”发送测试数据，通信距离约4000千米，通信时长10分钟。“火星快车”接收数据后转发给欧空局所属深空测控站，测控站接收后发送给欧洲空间操作中心（ESOC），ESOC再转发至北京航天飞行控制中心，由中方技术团队解译后，判读数据的正确性。试验过程如图所示。

受重量和体积约束，火星车直接对地通信能力较弱，无法满足大量数据传输需求，因此需要将数据发送给距离较近的火星轨道器，由通信能力更强的轨道器转发给地面接收系统，这个过程称作中继通信。

一般情况下，在建立中继通信前，轨道器会先向火星车发送一个“发起”信号，随后火星车回复“确认”信号，然后双方建立稳定的双向中继通信链路，就像朋友打电话需先拨通电话一样。由于“火星快车”发射频率与“祝融号”接收频率不匹配，不能通过“拨通电话”的方式建立通信链路。“祝融号”发射频率与“火星快车”接收频率匹配，因此双方需要事先约定好通信时间，由“祝融号”直接发送数据，“火星快车”进行“盲收”，有点类似于微信的通信方式。“火星快车”轨道器具备“盲收”功能，但在过去十多年里一直没有机会实际使用该功能。

欧空局表示，此次试验是“火星快车”在轨验证“盲收”模式的很好机会。根据数据判读分析结果，双方任务团队确认“祝融号”和“火星快车”配置的中继通信设备接口匹配，符合国际标准，传输数据内容完整正确，试验取得成功。后续，双方将在本阶段试验的基础上，进一步开展科学数据中继通信合作。“祝融号”火星车目前在火星表面工作196个火星日，累计行驶1297米，获取巡视探测原始科学数据约10GB，能源充足、状态良好。


作者：耿言 陈刚