<p><strong>Syllabus section: science and tech</strong></p>
<p><strong>Why in news?</strong><br />
China's Tianwen-1 space probe has sent back its first image of Mars. The image was released by the China National Space Administration (CNSA)</p>
<p><strong>About:</strong><br />
• The Mars probe sent back a black and white photo, which shows geological features of Mars including the Schiaparelli crater and the Valles Marineris, a vast stretch of canyons on the Martian surface.<br />
• The photo was taken about 2.2 million kilometers from Mars, as per the China National Space Administration.</p>
<p><strong>The Tianwen-1 Mission:</strong><br />
• It will lift off on a Long March 5 rocket, from the Wenchang launch center.<br />
• It will carry 13 payloads (seven orbiters and six rovers) that will explore the planet.<br />
• It is an all-in-one orbiter, lander and rover system.<br />
<strong>• Orbiter:</strong> It is a spacecraft designed to orbit a celestial body (astronomical body) without landing on its surface.<br />
<strong>• Lander:</strong> It is a strong, lightweight spacecraft structure, consisting of a base and three sides "petals" in the shape of a tetrahedron (pyramid-shaped). It is a protective "shell" that houses the rover and protects it, along with the airbags, from the forces of impact.<br />
<strong>• Rover:</strong> It is a planetary surface exploration device designed to move across the solid surface on a planet or other planetary-mass celestial bodies.</p>
<p><strong>Source: Space.com</strong><br />
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