Testing of China's Mars probe underway

Picture released on Aug. 23, 2016 by lunar probe and space project center of Chinese State Adiministration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence shows the concept portraying what the Mars rover and lander would look like. [Photo: Xinhua]

Chinese researchers have completed the aerodynamic design of the country's Mars probe and are now conducting testing and experiments, reports Science and Technology Daily.

Set to launch in 2020, Chinese space authorities are working on technology to help complete the orbiting, landing and surveying.

"The aerodynamic design is very important as it will protect the probe in its landing and prevent it from leaving the orbiting track," Zhou Weijiang, member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and researcher with the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), told Science and Technology Daily on Saturday.

"Weight is another key problem in the aerodynamic design of the probe, as the total weight of China's Mars probe is comparatively small in its kind around the world," said Zhou. 

"Heatproof materials, for example, if added too little the probe will be burnt while landing and too much will surpass the total weight standard," he added.