China’s Mars Rover Fails to Wake Up After Choking on Red Planet’s Dust
- Solar-powered Zhurong had been dormant during Martian winter
- Mission ‘significantly exceeded’ expectations, scientist says
China’s first Mars rover hasn’t woken up from a scheduled months-long hibernation on the surface of the Red Planet, a Chinese scientist confirmed Tuesday.
The solar-powered Zhurong, named after an ancient Chinese god of fire, landed in May 2021, making China only the second nation after the US to succeed in landing such a probe on the Red Plant. The 240 kilogram (530 pound) vehicle is one of the most significant achievements in China’s effort to challenge the US’s dominance in space exploration.
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China’s Mars Rover Fails to Wake Up After Choking on Red Planet’s Dust