China’s Tianwen-1 probe captures incredible HD images of Mars

China’s Tianwen-1 probe has spent nearly a month orbiting Mars, and now we have stunning images from the voyage. The China National Space Administration (CNSA) released three images earlier this month, two in black and white and one in color. They’re the first high-definition images from the Tianwen-1 mission.

Between CNSA and NASA, we have been spoiled with amazing Mars imagery lately. Last month, when NASA’s Perseverance rover landed on the red planet we got a glimpse at images shot with impressive new tech. Shortly after Perseverance landed, NASA shared a 360° photo from Mars.

An image captured by Tianwen-1 at an altitude of about 220 mi (350km) above Mars. Image credit: CNSA. Click to enlarge.

In its English press statement, CNSA writes, ‘The two black-and-white 7-meter-resolution images were taken by the high-definition camera on Tianwen 1’s orbiter when the probe was about 330 to 350 kilometers above the Martian surface. Craters, mountain ridges and sand dunes on the red planet are clear on the pictures. The color picture was generated by another camera on the orbiter, showing Mars’ north pole.”

An image captured by Tianwen-1 at an altitude of about 220 mi (350km) above Mars. Image credit: CNSA. Click to enlarge.

Tianwen-1 is China’s first independent Mars mission. The probe, which carries 13 scientific instruments in total, launched on a Long March 5 heavy-lift carrier rocket on July 23 from the Wenchang Space Launch Center in China’s Hainan province. The mission marks the beginning of the Asian nation’s planetary exploration program. Tianwen-1 weighs five metric tons and comprises a pair of primary parts, the orbiter itself and a landing capsule. At the time of the announcement, Tianwen-1 was roughly 131,730,000 miles (212M km) from Earth. The probe entered its preset parking orbit above Mars on February 24 and will stay in this orbit for about three months before deploying its landing capsule.

This image shows Mars’ north pole as captured by the Tiawen-1 probe. Image credit: CNSA. Click to enlarge.

Aboard Tianwen-1 are seven mission payloads, which will be activated during the probe’s time in its parking orbit. The payloads include tools to perform scientific tasks and observations. The payloads also have analytical tools to seek out an optimal landing site for the capsule. CNSA hopes to land a rover on Mars in May or June on the southern part of Mars’ Utopia Planitia, the largest recognized impact basin in our solar system.

CNSA’s Tianwen-1 probe in space, as captured by a small onboard camera. Image credit: CNSA

The rover, which doesn’t yet have a name, weighs 530 pounds (240kg) and has six wheels. Using power from its four onboard solar panels, the rover can move 200m per hour. The rover includes half a dozen scientific instruments, including a multispectral camera, ground-penetrating radar and meteorological measurement device. The plan is for the rover to spend about three months working on the surface of Mars. Assuming the rover lands successfully on Mars and can begin operations, it will be the sixth rover deployed on Mars and the first from outside the United States.