China 's China Daily published yesterday (March 28) that Russia and China will start a joint mission to explore Mars in 2009, marking an 'important milestone' in space cooperation. between the two countries.
According to the newspaper, a Chinese satellite will be launched on Mars on a Russian rocket, according to the agreement signed on March 26 between the two countries' space agency.
The deal, signed during a three-day Russian visit by Chinese President Hu Jintao, follows Moscow's commitments to strengthen cooperation with Beijing in exploring both Mars and Moon.
Accordingly, a small Chinese-designed satellite will be launched with Russia's Phobos Explorer around October 2009. After entering the orbit of Mars, 10-11 months later, the satellite will be separated from Russian ships and conduct exploration of the space of the Red planet. The Phobos Explorer, which carries a piece of equipment made by Hong Kong Polytechnic scientists, will land at Phobos, a Mars moon, and return to Earth with rock samples.
This mission may help to provide information about the origins of the Solar System and the Earth.
Mars image taken by the European Space Agency (ESA) (Photo: AFP)
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