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This story is a part of Welcome to Mars, our collection exploring the purple planet.
The way forward for the China National Space Administration’s charismatic Zhurong Mars rover is unsure. The small solar-powered rover went into hibernation in May 2022 because of an intense Martian mud storm. It was anticipated to get up in December, however there’s been no affirmation it is nonetheless functioning.
The rover touched down on the floor of Mars in May 2021 as a part of the Tianwen-1 mission, which additionally included an orbiter and lander. Andrew Jones, a journalist specializing in China’s area program, reported in SpaceInformation on Monday that each the rover and orbiter seem like in hassle and Zhurong could probably be misplaced.
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Details on the mission’s present standing are sketchy, which is not uncommon for China’s area program. South China Morning Post cited unnamed sources saying scientists had been nonetheless ready for a sign from the rover and hoped the Tianwen-1 orbiter might seize photos from orbit.
However, there could also be points with Tianwen-1 communications. Citizen scientist Scott Tilley tracks satellites and spacecraft communications. Tilley’s observations appear to point out floor management struggling to attach with Tianwen-1.
Long video, however that is the Doppler flip round for #TIANWEN1 this night because the anomaly develops. Note the way it’s biking between a a lot larger price sign and the decrease price one. This implies to me {that a} floor station is struggling to realize lock with the spacecraft. pic.twitter.com/tdHBAgd3NT
— Scott Tilley (@coastal8049) January 9, 2023
Zhurong is positioned in a plains space referred to as Utopia Planitia. The rover delivered an cute selfie and traveled over a mile throughout the planet’s floor. The historic mission made China the one nation moreover the US to function a rover on Mars.
Even if Tianwen-1 and Zhurong by no means get in contact with Earth once more, the mission will nonetheless have been a hit. The rover handily outlasted its unique three-month life expectancy and obtained a mission extension. If mud is the final word wrongdoer in its demise, will probably be good firm with NASA’s Opportunity rover and InSight lander. Mars is a troublesome place for a machine, particularly if it wants daylight to maintain going.