Tianwen-1

TW-1

Mission Profile

Tianwen-1 (TW-1) is China's first independent Mars mission, launched on 23 July 2020 aboard a Long March 5 and arriving at Mars in February 2021 carrying an orbiter, lander, and the Zhurong rover. On 15 May 2021 the lander successfully touched down in Utopia Planitia, making China the second nation ever to successfully operate a rover on Mars on its very first attempt. Zhurong traversed over 1.9 km of the Martian surface before entering a dormancy period due to dust accumulation on its solar panels. Tianwen-1's orbiter continues its scientific mission, mapping the Martian surface and studying the atmosphere, while demonstrating China's capability to conduct complex multi-element interplanetary missions from design to operational success.