An image from the China National Space Administration shows the Tianwen-1 probe en route to Mars. CNSA via AP
An image from the China National Space Administration shows the Tianwen-1 probe en route to Mars. CNSA via AP
An image from the China National Space Administration shows the Tianwen-1 probe en route to Mars. CNSA via AP
An image from the China National Space Administration shows the Tianwen-1 probe en route to Mars. CNSA via AP

Sheikh Mohammed congratulates China on Tianwen-1 reaching Mars


Sarwat Nasir
  • English
  • Arabic

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, has congratulated China on its Tianwen-1 spacecraft reaching Mars.

The orbiter-rover entered Mars orbit less than 24 hours after the UAE made history by becoming the fifth space agency to reach the Red Planet.

On Tuesday, Sheikh Mohammed congratulated China's President Xi Jinping on the achievement by Tianwen-1.

“On the occasion of the successful arrival of Tianwen-1 on Mars, I would like to congratulate the People’s Republic of China and President Xi Jinping on their great achievements,” Sheikh Mohammed said.

“Space and Mars have opened up a new stage for scientific co-operation and created new opportunities for humanity to build a better future.”

The spacecraft's on-board monitoring camera captured footage of it  entering Martian orbit.

This screengrab taken from handout video received from the China National Space Administration on February 13, 2021 shows the view of Mars from China's Tianwen-1 spacecraft as it circles the planet in space on February 12. AFP / CNSA
This screengrab taken from handout video received from the China National Space Administration on February 13, 2021 shows the view of Mars from China's Tianwen-1 spacecraft as it circles the planet in space on February 12. AFP / CNSA

Tianwen-1 will attempt a landing in May for a 90-day exploration journey on the Martian surface. It will study the planet’s soil and rock composition and search for signs of buried water ice.

Landing missions have a high failure rate. Tianwen-1 will use a parachute, backfiring rockets and airbags in its bid to accomplish the difficult task.

It will attempt to land within Utopia Planitia, the largest impact basin known so far in the solar system. The target spot will be south of where Nasa’s Viking 2 lander touched down in 1976.

This is China’s second attempt at reaching Mars.

In 2011, it lost its Yinghuo-1 spacecraft after the Russian rocket carrying it failed mid-flight.

Nasa’s Perseverance rover is expected to reach the Red Planet on February 18.

At a cost of $2.7 billion, the nuclear-powered rover is one the most expensive Mars missions to date.

It is the world’s first return mission to Mars and will aim to bring back collected samples to Earth by 2031, through a joint Nasa and European Space Agency project.

The rover will collect rock core and soil samples near the Jezero Crater, an area on the planet that contained a lake and river delta billions of years ago.

The rover also has a mini ‘helicopter’ on board, that will be deployed on landing. This will scout areas of interest and help plan driving routes for future missions.

Tianwen-1 lifts off into space - in pictures 

ESSENTIALS

The flights

Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.

The hotels

Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.

The tours

A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages. 

if you go

The flights

Etihad, Emirates and Singapore Airlines fly direct from the UAE to Singapore from Dh2,265 return including taxes. The flight takes about 7 hours.

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Rooms at the M Social Singapore cost from SG $179 (Dh488) per night including taxes.

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Makan Makan Walking group tours costs from SG $90 (Dh245) per person for about three hours. Tailor-made tours can be arranged. For details go to www.woknstroll.com.sg

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"The End of the Myth: From the Frontier to the Border Wall in the Mind of America" by Greg Grandin (Metropolitan Books)

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