China rover sends back first images from surface of Mars

The Zhurong is expected to spend about three months on the planet to study its surface soil and atmosphere.

Solar panels against an alien landscape, ramps and rods pointing at the horizon of Mars – China’s Zhurong rover has sent back its first photographs of the Red Planet after its history-making landing over the weekend. The rover was carried to Mars on the uncrewed spacecraft Tianwen-1 on Saturday, in the first successful probe landing by any country on its first mission to the planet. It will study the planet’s surface soil and atmosphere and look for signs of ancient life.