China releases images of Martian satellite Phobos
Beijing (China), July 23:On the second anniversary of its launch, China's Tianwen-1 probe delivered high-resolution images of Mars' natural satellite Phobos on Saturday.
Phobos and Deimos are two natural satellites of mars, and Phobos is the larger one with an irregular shape with no atmosphere and the closest satellite to the main star in the solar system.
According to the China National Space Administration, the Tianwen-1 operation team caught the timing when the orbiter was near Phobos and took clear images of the satellite in its "full moon" state.
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It is the first time that China has conducted Phobos imaging exploration and obtained first-hand scientific data at close range. According to researchers from the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, it gives vital data for scientists to explore Phobos' topography and functioning laws, as well as experience for China's planetary exploration programme.
Tianwen-1 is made up of an orbiter, a lander, and a rover. It landed on its pre-selected landing site in Utopia Planitia, a large Martian plain, on May 15, 2021, marking China's maiden probe voyage to the planet.
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-PTC News
