First Mars mission taking off smoothly

Looking good: Scientists conducting the Mars probe lander test in Hebei province for China’s upcoming Mars mission. — China Daily/ANN

BEIJING: China has been moving steadily toward its goal of fulfilling the country’s first Mars mission in the coming two years, with Chinese scientists looking to send its astronauts to the red planet.

Last week, the nation’s space authority carried out a key experiment for the coming Mars mission in Hebei province’s Huailai area, in front of dozens of foreign diplomats and journalists.