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China Sets Ambitious Mars Mission for 2028
Context:
China has announced that it will launch its Tianwen-3 Mars mission in 2028, two years ahead of its original schedule (2030).
More on News:
- This mission aims to land on Mars, collect samples, and return with about 600 grams of Martian soil by 2031, marking a historic milestone in the quest to understand the Red Planet.
- The competition and collaboration in Mars exploration are intensifying as nations strive to advance their space capabilities and achieve scientific breakthroughs.
Key Highlights:
- China’s early acceleration of its mission underscores its growing prowess in space exploration, while NASA and India are also making significant strides with their respective missions.
- In contrast, NASA’s Mars Sample Return mission has faced delays and budget concerns.
- The mission, designed to retrieve samples collected by the Perseverance rover, is now projected to cost up to $11 billion and may not launch until 2040.
- NASA is actively seeking solutions from seven aerospace companies to accelerate the mission and reduce expenses.
- Objective: To return Martian samples to Earth in the 2030s, a significant undertaking in planetary science.
- India is also advancing its Mars exploration goals with Mangalyaan-2, which includes plans to land a rover and a helicopter on the Martian surface.
- The mission will utilise a supersonic parachute and a sky crane to lower the rover safely.
Mission Details:
- Launch Vehicles: The mission will utilise two Long March 5 rockets. One will carry the lander and ascender combination, while the other will transport the orbiter and return module.
- The mission will employ technologies developed from previous successful missions, including the Chang’e-5 and Chang’e-6 moon sample return missions and the Tianwen-1 Mars landing mission.
- The mission will use various techniques for sample collection, such as multi-point surface scooping, fixed-point deep drilling, and rover-based sampling.
- Scientific Goals: To search for signs of life on Mars. Successful execution of this mission would position China as a leading player in space exploration.