Source: China Daily
The Chinese spacecraft Tianwen-1, launched last July, has made way into the Mars orbit on Wednesday, a day after the UAE's Hope Probe.
The orbital-control engine ignited the fuel for 15 minutes to slow down and allowed the probe to be captured by the red planet's gravity into an elliptical orbit. The five-ton crewless spacecraft consists of an orbiter, a lander and a rover and is expected to orbit Mars for about two-to-three months before making a risky landing attempt.
Tianwen-1 adjusted the engine ignition four times, during its travel course, to cope accordingly to reach the Martian orbit, according to the China National Space Administration. China seeks to analyze ice distribution in the region to learn and enable a sustainable futuristic human cycle on Mars.
NASA's fifth rover Perseverance is the next in line to enter into Mars' surface and is expected to land on Feb 18th.