China prepares for mission to deliver Mars samples

With the long distance to Mars and the limited payload capacity of existing missiles, the mission will require two Long March-5 vehicles. This is reported by Xinhua News Agency, a partner of TV BRICS.

The primary scientific goal of the mission will be searching for signs of life. Other research objectives will include studying the Martian climate and its evolution, Martian geology, and internal processes on the planet.

This mission will be very complex as it will involve several phases:

• collecting samples on the surface of Mars;

• takeoff from Mars;

• a rendezvous in Mars orbit;

• protecting the planet from terrestrial contaminants.

The entire mission plan involves 13 steps and uses in situ detection and remote sensing technologies. The Chinese team has already selected several promising locations to collect samples.

The mission will follow international standards for protecting the planet, and China plans to collaborate with scientists from around the world to study the samples and data collected.

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