China releases first Tianwen-1 images of rover landing site
The new colonial movement: China yesterday released the first two images taken by its Mars orbiter Tianwen-1 of its planned rover landing site in the northern lowland plains of Mars.
The image to the right is a mosaic of two wide angle photos from the context camera on Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO). The white cross is the spot of the latitude and longitude that had previously been leaked to the Chinese press as the landing site. The white box shows the area covered by the only high resolution MRO photo, as of October 2020. Since then MRO has taken a number of additional high resolution images of this area.
The red boxes mark the areas covered by Tianwen-1’s two new images. Below is a reduced version of the larger of these two photos.
Click for full image.
These two images confirm that this location was the rover’s prime landing site. However, the release of the images also included the announcement that they have pushed back the rover landing from late April to May or even June. Either they have decided it is going to take more time to cover this area with reconnaissance photos, or these first photos have forced them to reconsider the landing site.
That these two photos keyed in on the two largest features in this area suggests they are assessing the landing site. We do not know how much smooth territory the lander needs to settle down between these large features. Nor do we know the exact technology the lander will use to maneuver its way down. It could be it will use these images as reference, which means they must collect enough images to cover the entire area before landing.
Or it could be these images have told them this location won’t work and thus the delay in landing.
I think the answer is the former. However, we will have to wait to find out. China’s government is not going to be forthcoming with many details.
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The new colonial movement: China yesterday released the first two images taken by its Mars orbiter Tianwen-1 of its planned rover landing site in the northern lowland plains of Mars.
The image to the right is a mosaic of two wide angle photos from the context camera on Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO). The white cross is the spot of the latitude and longitude that had previously been leaked to the Chinese press as the landing site. The white box shows the area covered by the only high resolution MRO photo, as of October 2020. Since then MRO has taken a number of additional high resolution images of this area.
The red boxes mark the areas covered by Tianwen-1’s two new images. Below is a reduced version of the larger of these two photos.
Click for full image.
These two images confirm that this location was the rover’s prime landing site. However, the release of the images also included the announcement that they have pushed back the rover landing from late April to May or even June. Either they have decided it is going to take more time to cover this area with reconnaissance photos, or these first photos have forced them to reconsider the landing site.
That these two photos keyed in on the two largest features in this area suggests they are assessing the landing site. We do not know how much smooth territory the lander needs to settle down between these large features. Nor do we know the exact technology the lander will use to maneuver its way down. It could be it will use these images as reference, which means they must collect enough images to cover the entire area before landing.
Or it could be these images have told them this location won’t work and thus the delay in landing.
I think the answer is the former. However, we will have to wait to find out. China’s government is not going to be forthcoming with many details.
I must unfortunately ask you for your financial support because I do not depend on ads and rely entirely on the generosity of readers to keep Behind the Black running. You can either make a one time donation for whatever amount you wish, or you sign up for a monthly subscription ranging from $2 to $15 through Paypal or $3 to $50 through Patreon.
Your support will allow me to continue covering science and culture as I have for the past twenty years, independent and free from any outside influence.
Your support is even more essential to me because I not only keep this site free from advertisements, I do not use the corrupt social media companies like Google, Twitter, and Facebook to promote my work. I depend wholly on the direct support of my readers.
You can provide that support to Behind The Black with a contribution via Patreon or PayPal. To use Patreon, go to my website there and pick one of five monthly subscription amounts, or by making a one-time donation. For PayPal click one of the following buttons:
If Patreon or Paypal don't work for you, you can support Behind The Black directly by sending your donation by check, payable to Robert Zimmerman, to
Behind The Black
c/o Robert Zimmerman
P.O.Box 1262
Cortaro, AZ 85652
Or you can donate by using Zelle through your bank. You will need to give my name and email address (found at the bottom of the "About" page). The best part of this electronic option is that no fees will be deducted! What you donate will be what I receive.
IF, it actually hits the planet and does not RUD, it will likely “see” a scene very much like what Sojourner, Spirit and Opportunity, Curiosity, and Perseverance have observed over the past decades.
With respect to the entry, descent, and landing technology the Chinese might use, I see three basic options:
1. Skycrane
2. Airbag
3. Retrorockets
I think it must be Airbag, since it is the simplest choice and they have Spirit and Opportunity to copy.
Retrorockets leave you carrying your landing equipment around on a solar-powered rover, reducing ground performance significantly, thus they have been used only on stationary landers.
Skycrane seems risky for a highly-politically-visible first effort.
Other options, or conclusions?
Ray Van Dune: I think they will be using a combination of retrorockets and airbags. See this post from November 2019: China unveils Mars lander during landing simulation test
The test showed rockets being used to control the landing. I have read elsewhere that airbags will also be involved.
Bob, I do not understand what I am seeing in that Chinese video, but it looks like a nightmare rig! But I was wrong in saying retros were only used on landers not rovers. I was thinking only of on-vehicle retros, but I forgot about the retro packs used below the parachutes by Spirit and Opportunity, and fired at the last moment to cushion the landing of the airbag “ball”. I’ll bet the Chinese use that retro-airbag combo.