China launched an unmanned probe on Thursday to Mars in its first independent mission to visit another planet. China's largest carrier rocket, the Long March 5 Y-4, blasted off with the probe at Wenchang Space Launch Centre in the southern island province of Hainan, GlobalNews reported
The probe is expected to reach Mars in February 2021. It comprises an orbiting spacecraft known as an orbiter, which will release a second spacecraft called a lander that will attempt a controlled descent to the surface. Once settled, the lander will deploy a rover that will explore its surroundings for 90 days.
The rover is set to explore the Red Planet for over three months. Equipped with two panoramic cameras, the device is expected to identify and study weather conditions and minerals on Mars. Among other things, it can detect the ingredients of the soil 10 meters under the planet’s surface, as well as ice 100 meters below the surface.
The launch took place three days after the UAE sent its Amal (Hope) orbiter into space from a site in Japan, which is also expected to reach Mars next February.
