They got videos, selfies and pictures of Martian surface though. Three rovers with great reputation and service.
Let's see if China manages to get a Rover down.
China's Space Program News Thread
- Thread starter crazyinsane105
- Start date
- Status
Let's see if China manages to get a Rover down.
The thin atmosphere and the gradual degradation of componentry for the long journey were often given for the failure of earlier landing attempts by NASA and ESA.
"Future Development of Space Transportation System of China" by CALT published on MISSILES AND SPACE VEHICLES, issue 1 2021
Something I am interested in:
Achievement so far:
Something I am interested in:
Achievement so far:
- YF-130, partial tested and full engine assembled. The partial test is full sized pre-burner and turbo pump.
- YF-90, full engine assembled.
- New crew launcher (921) to be launched in 2025 to support manned lunar landing mission. Not saying what configuration.
- Heavy launcher (CZ-9) to be launched in 2030, to support manned lunar base construction.
- To realize first stage reusable by 2025. Test to begin in 2021.
- To replace all hypergolic engines/rockets by 2030.
I noticed that most of photos about Tianwen rover seems to show the simple props used for exhibition instead of the actual rover. The actual rover noticably have more protruding cables and sensors than the prop
Prop:
Actual rover:
Also while NASA rover's axle located on the inside, Tianwen and ESA rover's axle located on outside
NASA
Tianwen
ESA
Prop:
Actual rover:
Also while NASA rover's axle located on the inside, Tianwen and ESA rover's axle located on outside
NASA
Tianwen
ESA
I'll make myself even more popular here, but...this is a bit silly.
The US has been sending probes to Mars since before it was practical to send live video. The transition burn is still considered important, but other forms of telemetry can give the necessary data without needing a video. The US has landed 4 successful landers, three rovers, several orbiters (7? I think?) and two flybys. The US has lost missions to Mars, to be sure: 1 flyby, 2 orbiters and a lander. Two of those losses were for really, really stupid reasons. Hopefully, Perseverance does well. We shall see.
That said, I do understand why China wanted the video: it would be extra helpful if something went wrong their first attempt. It's now an option, when in 1971 it was not, so why not?
Whether it is Hope, Tiawen-1, Perseverance, Exomars or Mangalyaan, the data returned will benefit all of humanity as we as a species attempt to colonize Mars.
I would suggest eschewing the nationalism, celebrating the triumphs and mourning the failures.
I think there are/were 4 Mars rovers: Sojourner, Opportunity, Spirit, Curiosity
Maybe people don’t count Sojourner for some reason or forget it existed.
I was counting independent landings, but you are correct.
I think by "axle" you meant the arm that connect the axle with the rotating bearing and the body. I am not so sure of them being different though. Remember that these rotating bearings (the devices just above the wheels) can rotate almost 360 degrees only limited by the power cables. The ESA and Tianwen rover's arms can rotate into the same way (inside).
That is what I believed too.
On-board cameras can give visual confirmations to the control center after every event. It will help to identify the cause in case a failure. This is the same with cameras on rocket launchers these days. It is not even a new thing, we have seen Apollo's stage separation videos. They are not just for show, but has real technical reasons.
The reason that US did the Apollo video but not Mars video is because, Apollo staging videos are so close to earth, so the analog bandwidth in the time is wide enough. High bandwidth digital communication from as far as Mars is only possible recently, and by this time, US has accumulated enough experience that they can trust everything the telemetry data says, but China does not have such confidence in a first mission.
- Status