China’s Tianwen-1 Mars probe delivers its first haunting look at the planet – CNET [CNET]

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CNSA previously released a spacecraft “selfie” in September 2020 showing Tianwen-1 on its long flight.

The Chinese spacecraft has been making some corrections to its trajectory to bring it neatly into orbit on Feb. 10. The mission is made up of an orbiter, a lander and a rover. It will spend some time traveling around Mars before attempting the harrowing landing part of the mission.

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Joining Tianwen-1 in orbit will be NASA’s Perseverance mission and the United Arab Emirate’s Hope probe. Reaching orbit is a big deal for all of them, though NASA will the focus on Feb. 18 when it attempts to land the Perseverance rover on the surface.

Tianwen-1’s snapshot of Mars is dramatic not just for its view of the red planet, but for the hopes and goals it represents.

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