Elsevier

Advances in Space Research

Volume 67, Issue 2, 15 January 2021, Pages 812-823
Advances in Space Research

Scientific objectives and payloads of Tianwen-1, China’s first Mars exploration mission

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asr.2020.11.005Get rights and content
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Abstract

This paper describes the scientific objectives and payloads of Tianwen-1, China’s first exploration mission to Mars. An orbiter, carrying a lander and a rover, lifted-off in July 2020 for a journey to Mars where it should arrive in February 2021. A suite of 13 scientific payloads, for in-situ and remote sensing, autonomously commanded by integrated payload controllers and mounted on the orbiter and the rover will study the magnetosphere and ionosphere of Mars and the relation with the solar wind, the atmosphere, surface and subsurface of the planet, looking at the topography, composition and structure and in particular for subsurface ice. The mission will also investigate Mars climate history. It is expected that Tianwen-1 will contribute significantly to advance our scientific knowledge of Mars.

Keywords

China’s first Mars exploration
Scientific tasks
Scientific payloads

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