China's Mars Exploration Unveils Scientific Evidence of the Martian Ocean

After the success of Tianwen-1, China's orbiter to the Red Planet, the country's space administration CNSA (China National Space Administration) revealed the newest data gathered by the Tianwen-1 orbiter and Zhurong rover, as reported by CGTN, the state-run media company.

China's Tianwen-1 and Zhurong reached Mars' orbit on Feb. 10, 2021, and operated for almost 800 days. The Land of Sleeping Giant's lander and orbiter reached the Martian surface on May 14, which was three months later the start of the operations.

The CNSA recently announced that the Zhurong and Tianwen-1 have gained back 1,480 gigabytes of raw data that will support the theory of the ancient Martian ocean that once flowed in the Utopia Planitia, which is the vast Martian plain, according to a CGTN report.

Mars Water Evidence

With the aid of the collected data of the recent Mars exploration, the Chinese scientist presents the relationship between the geological formation and water activities on the Red Planet by conducting a thorough study of these geological characteristics in the landing area.

They found out that the hydrated minerals in platy-like stones, a layer of "duricrust," prove that there has been evident liquid activity at the landing area since the Amazonian epoch that was a billion years ago.

The claim about the existence of a liquid water ocean on Mars is not new. The National Aeronautics and Space Agency (NASA) revealed on their recent Mars sighting, using the James Webb Space Telescope, that there is water present on the planet as shown on the recently captured images of Mars, per Science Times.

Chinese astronomers have also found that the soil on Mars contains a high bearing strength and low friction parameters. It shows the site where the Chinese rover landed, which must have experienced air and possibly water erosion.

(Photo : CNSA)
China's first Mars rover Zhurong with its landing platform.

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Continuation of Further Studies

Both the Tianwen-1 and Zhurong will continue on Mars' exploration to accumulate scientific data and search for water-related tracks on the planet.

CNSA scientists mentioned that they have been researching the relation between the rocks' density and Mars' surface and the degree of erosion. They also include in their study the distribution of ions and the neutral particles in the Red Planet-near environment and the gravitational field of Mars, according to China's space agency (CNSA). The country's first Mars mission has achieved orbiting, roving, and landing on Mars in one exploration for the first time in history. The China Academy of Space and Technology (CAST) said that it inhibits the wisdom of the Chinese and the country's act in leaping ranks in planetary exploration, as CGTN reported.

The International Astronautical Federation (IAF) World Space Award presented a recognition to the Tianwen-1 Spacecraft Development Team who made extraordinary progress in space activities by contributing to space science, technology, policy, medicine, and management. The Chinese team was greeted by the IAF as they gave "innovative options for [a] successful Mars mission" and made outstanding contributions to the development of deep space exploration technology.