- This event has passed.
NEW
LANDING OF CHINA’S ZHURONG MARS ROVER, May 14, 2021, ~7:11 pm ET
Event Navigation
Update, May 14: The China National Space Administration now acknowledges that it will try today.
CNSA has today acknowledged that it will attempt to land the Zhurong rover on Mars between May 15-19 Beijing time. Thanks to amateur radio enthusiasts we know the first attempt window will be ~23:10 UTC/7:10 pm ET today. https://t.co/HFklaX3bui (English: https://t.co/HFklaX3bui) pic.twitter.com/VdBgkZMctd
— Andrew Jones (@AJ_FI) May 14, 2021
This is no indication as to whether live coverage will be provided or when the world will know if it was successful.
Original Entry: China’s Zhurong lander/rover will separate from the Tianwen-1 spacecraft on May 14, 2021 and land on Mars at 2311 UTC (7:11 pm EDT) according to unofficial reports.
China itself had not made an announcement as of May 13.
Tianwen-1 arrived in Mars orbit in February 2021 and has been studying the planet ever since. The Zhurong lander/rover will set down on Utopia Planitia.
Zhurong means God of Fire in Chinese mythology. The Chinese name for Mars, Huoxing, means Planet of Fire.