• Date:
  • Category: Tech

Recently, the relevant research team of the Aerospace Science and Technology Group stated that China plans to complete the return of Mars samples around 2030. The Chinese people's exploration of space is moving forward steadily and further. From a global perspective, humans have launched more than 40 space probes to Mars. People are full of enthusiasm for exploring Mars. The history of Mars exploration almost runs through the entire history of spaceflight.

Mars is the most similar and second closest planet to Earth in the solar system. A large number of detection results show that ancient Mars was probably very similar to the Earth. After a long evolution, it became what it is today with a thin atmosphere, low temperature, and depleted water sources. Detecting the topography, geological structures, atmospheric characteristics, climate changes, internal structure and physical fields of Mars will not only provide a deep understanding of the origin and evolution of Mars, but will also help promote research on the evolution laws of other planets such as the Earth. In the long run, exploring Mars can find new resources for mankind. Many scientists believe that it may be possible to transform Mars into a second home suitable for human habitation.

In recent years, many countries around the world have actively promoted Mars exploration. In Mars orbit, Mars orbiters that conduct general surveys of Mars include the United States' "Mars Odyssey", "Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter" and "Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution", Europe's "Mars Express" and "Trace Gas Orbiter", the United Arab Emirates' " Hope" and China's "Tianwen-1" orbiter, etc. On the surface of Mars, the American "Curiosity" and "Perseverance" Mars rovers, the "InSight" lander, and China's "Zhurong" Mars rover have all conducted landing exploration or patrol exploration.

These detections have achieved many important scientific results. Based on the data obtained by the "Tianwen-1" orbiter, China's first global Mars exploration map was released in 2023, providing a better-quality basic base map for Mars exploration and scientific research. According to the detection of the "Zhurong" Mars rover, there are two sets of upwardly thinning sedimentary sequences about 30 meters and 80 meters beneath the several meters thick wind-sand dust on the surface of Mars, which revealed multiple phases of sedimentation dating back 3 billion years. Mars surface modification events and geological processes related to water activity. The "Zhurong" also discovered evidence of salt water activity and modern water vapor circulation in the patrol area that dates back about 760 million years ago. It drew a high-precision structural layered image 80 meters above the surface of the landing area, and discovered 40 Utopian Plains on Mars. New evidence of water and wind-sand activity occurring over billions of years.

In January this year, the latest data from Europe's "Mars Express" discovered that there is a large amount of water ice in the Martian strata. In 2023, "Mars Express" also discovered the existence of volcanoes and magma movements under the surface of Mars. The interaction of lava and water may create an environment suitable for biological survival. The American "Curiosity" will discover unknown organic molecules on Mars in 2021. "Perseverance" found organic matter or traces of it in rock samples and volcanic craters in 2022 and 2023. In addition, "Perseverance" will use carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to produce oxygen on Mars for the first time in 2021. This is the first time humans have produced oxygen on an extraterrestrial planet.

In the next period of time, human exploration of Mars will mainly complete two major tasks. One is to return samples to Mars for detection, and conduct a regional survey of Mars to determine whether there is water on Mars and whether there are traces of life, etc.; the other is to complete the onboard mission. Man lands on Mars. Both tasks are unprecedented and require many difficulties to be overcome.

Specifically, there are two main difficulties in Mars sample return: one is how to obtain samples on the surface of Mars, and then take off and ascend from the surface of Mars; the other is how to complete the connection between the ascender and the returner-orbiter combination in Mars orbit Intersection and sample transfer place high demands on the intelligent design of the detector. Manned landing on Mars will encounter even greater challenges. Mars is so far away from the Earth that it will take at least 520 days to get there and back with current technology. Whether it is the development of super-heavy launch vehicles and manned Mars spacecraft that can provide a long-term life support environment, or the landing and ascent technology of large-mass manned Mars spacecraft, as well as the selection of Mars astronauts, the development of Mars suits, etc., they are all tested human intelligence.