China resumes communications with Tianwen-1 Mars orbiter
With the Sun no longer between the Earth and Mars, China has re-established communications with its Tianwen-1 Mars orbiter.
According to the CNSA [China National Space Administration], the orbiter will enter the remote-sensing orbit of Mars in early November to carry out global detection and obtain scientific data such as morphology and geological structure, surface material composition and soil type distribution, atmospheric ionosphere, and space environment of Mars.
The orbiter will also relay the communication between the rover and Earth for the rover’s extended mission, the CNSA added.
Based on this information, full communications with the rover Zhurong will not resume until November because the orbiter needs to re-adjust its orbit.
With the Sun no longer between the Earth and Mars, China has re-established communications with its Tianwen-1 Mars orbiter.
According to the CNSA [China National Space Administration], the orbiter will enter the remote-sensing orbit of Mars in early November to carry out global detection and obtain scientific data such as morphology and geological structure, surface material composition and soil type distribution, atmospheric ionosphere, and space environment of Mars.
The orbiter will also relay the communication between the rover and Earth for the rover’s extended mission, the CNSA added.
Based on this information, full communications with the rover Zhurong will not resume until November because the orbiter needs to re-adjust its orbit.