China to launch its Mars probe in 2020 July:
China has announced that it is to launch its Mars probe in July 2020. The spacecraft will be launched onboard the Long March-5 Y4 carrier rocket.
Long March-5 Y4 rocket:
The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), China`s space agency, will send a probe to orbit and land and deploy a rover on Mars. It also states that the Long March-5 Y4 rocket has completed its 100-second test, which was the last engine test before the final assembly. It was tested for its high thrust hydrogen-oxygen engine. Also, the Long March-5 rocket of China is to have several missions in including the Mars probe launch and the lunar sample return.
In November 2020, China started the process of a probe hovering avoiding obstacles and descending to land on Mars. After many tests, CASC is now ready for a safe landing on Mars. CASC also simulated the gravity of Mars to test the design of the lander.
Mars:
Mars, also known as the Red Planet, is the 4th planet from the Sun. The red colour of the planet is due to the high concentration of iron oxide compounds in the rocks of the surface of the planet. The planet is covered with craters, channels, mountains, polar ice caps, and lowlands. The two moons of the planet are Phobos and Deimos. These rocky objects look like asteroids.
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation:
Founded on: 1 July 1999
Headquarters: Beijing, China
Chairman: LEI Fanpei
CASC is the main agency for the Chinese space program. CASC indigenously designs, develops and manufactures launch vehicles, spacecraft, strategic and tactical missile systems, and ground equipment.
######