China's famed Mars rover, the Zhurong, is still in hibernation and did not wake up during its scheduled timeline last December. It has been almost a month since its supposed awakening but there is still no news regarding its return to operations in its probe of the neighboring Red Planet, in one of CNSA's most prolific missions yet.
The Zhurong rover is part of the famous Tianwen-1 Mission which ventured to Mars in 2021, with the spacecraft supposedly turning two years since its arrival on the planet.
China's Zhurong Rover is Still in Hibernation
(Photo : Screenshot taken from China National Space Administration's Weixin post)
CNET reported that the Chinese Zhurong Mars rover is still in hibernation after a long time since it last became operational. It first went to sleep last May 2022, with the Chinese National Space Administration initially planning to make it hibernate until December before going back to its normal operations and venturing into its region.
Since December, there were no signs of movement or waking up from the Zhurong, and this raised alarms to a Chinese space program analyst, Andrew Jones, who shared it via Space News.
The Zhurong initially hibernated due to a nasty dust storm it encountered in late May, and this is one of the massive threats that rovers face on their mission on the planet.
Read Also: China's Zhurong Mars Rover Travels Over 500 Meters on the Red Planet Unharmed-What's Next?
Will the Zhurong Wake Up?
China's Zhurong rover did not wake up at its intended time, and this could mean trouble says the analyst, as it could either have a hard time or is only waiting to recharge the spacecraft with its solar batteries. Still, this remains unknown for now, as there are no statements yet from the CNSA regarding its Mars rover.
Additionally, it is unknown if it still has the capabilities to move away from hibernation, or if this is the end for the spacecraft.
China's Mars Mission
The Chinese Mars mission is one of the most famous ventures it had off-world, and this is the country's first time to venture towards the Red Planet and land a rover for its probe. China was the third country to land on Mars and bring a rover on the planet, alongside the United States with its multiple Mars rovers, and the Roscosmos from Russia.
To date, it is still the last country to journey toward Mars and bring a rover to study its ground, and it has the same goals as the US to get significant samples on Mars.
Zhurong's landing location is on the Utopia Planitia region of the planet.
China also shared several photos of its landing location and state when it arrived, displaying the massive flag of the country to signify its arrival.
The Zhurong rover was meant to collect samples and do China's bidding for their study and plans regarding Mars, but that sees a massive hurdle with its prolonged hibernation. For now, there is no information regarding the rover's functions and its problems, especially if it could still continue its further probe of the planet.
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