China reveals plan to map the entire surface of Mars by 2028 amid race with US
China plans to complete a geological map of Mars by the end of 2028, as the red planet increasingly features in its space rivalry with the United States. Hou Zengqian, chief scientist of China’s next Mars mission known as Tianwen-3, on Monday said the map would cover the entire surface of the planet and it aimed to be the global standard for the Martian geological ages. State news agency Xinhua…
China has announced its ambitious plan to develop a comprehensive geological map of Mars by the end of 2028, as it intensifies its space race with the United States. Hou Zengqian, chief scientist for the country's upcoming Mars mission, Tianwen-3, revealed that the geological map will encompass the entire Martian surface and will serve as the global standard for Martian geological ages.
State news agency Xinhua reported that the AI-driven map will be a crucial component in preparations for the Tianwen-3 mission. The map will integrate data from Zhu Rong, China's first Mars rover, which landed on the planet in May 2021 as part of the Tianwen-1 mission. Zhu Rong discovered evidence suggesting Mars may have once harbored an intercontinental-scale ancient ocean around 3.5 billion years ago and possibly experienced short-term flooding around 1.6 billion years ago.
The Tianwen-3 mission, scheduled for late 2028, aims to collect and return at least 500 grams of Martian samples to Earth by around 2031, making China the first nation to successfully achieve a Mars sample-return mission. This endeavor will encompass two launches: one carrying a lander and ascent vehicle to gather Martian material, and another with an orbiter and return module to transport the samples back to Earth.
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