Huoxing 1

Also know as Tianwen-1

China plans to launch the Huoxing 1 (HX 1) Mars probe, consisting of an orbiter and a lander with rover.

Huoxing simply means Mars in Chinese.

The science goals include studying the Martian topography, soil, environment, atmosphere and water ice, as well as the planet's internal structure and search for possible signs of life.

The launch vehicle will be a CZ-5 rocket from the new Wenchang spaceport on the island province of Hainan, The mission is planned to be launched in July or August 2020, arriving at Mars Feb 2021.

China to launch Mars Mission next year, in 2020

Scientific Objectives and Scientific

Payloads

This mission will perform global and general exploration of Mars using orbiter exploration. By roving exploration, this mission will conduct detailed investigations of key areas with high accuracy and resolution.

Specifically, the scientific objectives include the following.

(1) It will study the morphology and geological structure of Mars. It will detect global topography features of Mars, and obtain the high precision topography data of typical area, study the evolution and the cause of Mars geological structure. Medium resolution camera and high resolution camera are configured to accomplish the scientific exploration of studying morphology and geological structure of Mars. Medium resolution camera can obtain about 100m spatial resolution data of Mars global topography features. High resolution camera can obtain high resolution image for detailed investigation of the key area at landing site, geomorphic feature data with a spatial resolution about meters. The data of the two payloads can be used to conduct a research of the Mars geological features forming process, such as water flow, volcanic landforms and wind erosion, impact crater landform, polar glacier geomorphology, and so on.

(2) It will study Mars surface soil characteristics and water-ice distribution. It will detect Mars soil types, weathering and deposition feature and their global distribution. It will search for water-ice and study Mars soil layered structure profile. Mars Subsurface Exploration Radar on the orbiter and Subsurface Detection Radar on the rover are configured to accomplish the scientific exploration of soil feature and water-ice distribution. It will detect the Martian surface and underground waterice by the dual-polarization echo characteristics of radar, and solve the problem of multiplicity in water-ice detection. By using fully polarimetric radar, combined with orbiting detection, it will further the scientific understanding of Mars soil structure and ice water detection.

(3) It will study Mars surface material composition. It will recognize rock types on Mars surface, detect secondary mineral on Mars surface and analyze surface mineral composition. Mars Mineralogy Spectrometer, Multispectral Camera and Mars Surface Composition Detection Package are configured to accomplish the scientific exploration of Mars surface material composition. Using the spectrum data of visible spectrum and near-infrared from Mars Mineralogy Spectrometer, the research of Mars surface material composition can be conducted; Using Mars Surface Composition Detection Package and Multispectral Camera, Mars surface element, mineral and rock types can be studied. Combined with ancient lakes, ancient channels, alluvial continents and other aqueous landscape, it will search carbonate minerals or weathering mineral such as hematite, layered silicate, hydrate sulfates, per chlorate minerals, and detect the effect of water deterioration on these minerals, and establish a relationship between the aqueous phase environment and secondary mineral species on the surface of Mars

(4) It will study Mars atmospheric ionosphere and surface climate and environmental characteristics. It will detect Mars space environment and air temperature, air pressure, wind field on the surface of Mars, and conduct the research of Mars ionosphere profiles and the seasonal variation of the weather. Mars Weather Station, Mars Ions and Neutral Particle Analyzer and Mars Energetic Particles Analyzer are configured to detect Mars atmosphere, ionosphere and surface weather and environmental characteristics. Mars Weather Station can measure air temperature, pressure, wind speed and wind direction on surface of Mars; Mars Ions and Neutral Particle Analyzer and Mars Energetic Particles Analyzer can detect Mars ionosphere and interplanetary environment. Mars Ions and Neutral Particles Analyzer also can measure ion flux in the Mars space environment, distinguish main ion species, obtain the density, speed, temperature and other physical parameters of the ion species; also, it can measure flux of neutral energetic particles, distinguish H, He, O and other major neutral particle species; Mars Energetic Particles Analyzer can obtain energy spectrum, flux and composition data of energetic electron, proton, alpha particle and other ions.

(5) It will study Mars physical fields and internal structure, detect Mars magnetic field characteristics and research the history of early geological evolution and internal mass distribution and gravity field of Mars.

Mars Magnetic Field Observation Station and Subsurface Detection Radar on the rover, Mars Magnetometer and Mars Subsurface Exploration Radar on the orbiter are configured to detect Mars physical field and internal structure. Mars Magnetic Field Observation Station can detect magnetic field on Mars surface and identify magnetic index. Cooperating with Mars Magnetometer on orbiter, it can detect Mars space magnetic field, invert Mars ionosphere currents and determine parameters such as Mars ionosphere conductivity. Using natural magnetic field jump, it can detect internal large scale configuration and local structure, invert the conductivity in depth, thickness of the spheres and the temperature of Mars.

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