More than a year after it arrived, China's first successful interplanetary mission has mapped the Red Planet.
The science objectives assigned to the six other scientific payloads on board were completed. According to the China National Space Administration, this marks the completion of the planned scientific exploration tasks for the orbiter and the rover.
There are a number of surface features on Mars captured by the agency.
Photos of China's Mars mission.
As of June 29, the total number of missions completed by Tianwen 1 was 1,343. A successful touchdown in May of that year was aided by the early work done by the craft.
After the rover was on the surface, the orbiter mostly provided communications relay support, but in November it began its own science program.
The image is the first of six.
The dune was imaged before it entered hibernation. The image is from the PEC.
The crater was imaged by a high-resolution camera. The image is from the PEC.
The central crater of Ascraeus Mons can be seen in the image. The image is from the PEC.
The ice sheet over the south pole of Mars can be seen from the camera. The image is from the PEC.
There is a section of canyons captured by a medium-resolution camera. The image is from the PEC.
There are scattered craters in Arabia Terra. The image is from the PEC.
The pair will continue their work even though they have completed their objectives. In order to get ready for the Mars sample return mission, which is expected to launch in 2028, Tianwen 1 will be used for an Aerobraking test.
It is due to winter in the north of Mars. The local spring is expected to occur late in the year when the rover's sensors detect higher levels of light from the sun.
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