China has successfully carried out its first independent mission to another planet, sending a rover into space, specifically to Mars.
The country's space agency has managed to add China to the list of countries, along with the UAE and the US, that have launched rockets to the red planet, and hope to show off their technological capabilities.
A six-wheeled robot , "Tianwen-1" or "Questions to Heaven," was mounted on a Long March 5 rocket , which took off from Wenchang Airport on Hainan Island .
The research vessel is expected to arrive at Mars in February, where the robot will attempt to explore the planet for 90 days.
It is the first time China has independently launched a mission to Mars, or to another planet in general, since its previous attempt in 2011 relied on a Russian rocket. That mission also failed to reach the red planet, as it failed to escape Earth's orbit.
There are certainly expected to be challenges as the spacecraft approaches Mars, mission spokesman Liu Tongjiereporters before launch.
"When you get close to Mars, it's very important to slow down," he said.
Liu said that the new spacecraft launched by China will orbit Mars for about two and a half months and will look for the opportunity to enter its atmosphere to make a soft landing.
"If the deceleration process is not correct, or if the flight precision is lacking, the spacecraft will not dock with Mars."
"The entry, deceleration and landing (EDL) is a very difficult process. We believe that China can carry out a successful process and the spacecraft can land safely on Mars."
Eight spacecraft, American, European, Indian, are either in orbit around Mars or on its surface with other missions underway or planned.
The United Arab Emirates launched a mission to the red planet on Monday, with an artificial satellite that will study the planet's atmosphere.
The United States plans to send a research vessel in the coming months that will deploy a rover, named "Perseverance," the largest, heaviest, most advanced vehicle sent to Mars by Nasa.
The research vessel launched by China will carry several scientific instruments to observe the atmosphere and surface of Mars, looking for signs of water and ice.
A fourth planned launch to Mars was postponed for two years due to the COVID-19 and technical problems.
