Stage Zero Studio with Wil Waldon

China's Zhurong Mars Rover Stays Stationary During Winter Hibernation

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  • China's first Mars rover, Zhurong, has not moved since September, according to NASA imagery released last month.
  • Zhurong went into hibernation on May 18, 2022, to survive Mars' harsh winter and was expected to wake up around December.
  • The rover remains stationary due to sand and dust covering its solar panels, which reduces its ability to transform sunlight into electricity.
  • Chinese scientists are waiting for a signal from the rover, and sandstorms have hampered its ability to generate power.
  • Zhurong's mission objectives include searching for evidence of water on Mars and investigating the planet's surface composition, regolith characteristics, and water-ice distribution.
  • The rover is considered to have fulfilled its mission with an expected lifespan of 90 days.
  • This is not the first time Zhurong has gone quiet; it lost contact with Earth for a month during a solar conjunction in October 2021.
  • The China National Space Administration has not released any information on the current status of the rover.

    • Join us on the Space News Pod to stay up-to-date with the latest space-related news and information.

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