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May 15, 2021 - Science

China makes history with successful Mars landing

Miriam Kramer
A model of the Tianwen-1 Mars rover is displayed during an exhibition at the National Museum of China in Beijing

A model of the Tianwen-1 Mars rover is displayed during an exhibition at the National Museum of China in Beijing. Photo: Wang Zhao/AFP via Getty Images

A Chinese lander carrying a rover successfully touched down on Mars for the first time, state media reports.

Why it matters: This is the first time China has landed a spacecraft on another planet, and it launches the nation into an elite club of only a few space agencies to successfully make it to the Martian surface.

What’s happening: The rover arrived in orbit around the Red Planet in February with the country's Tianwen-1 mission.

  • The rover is reportedly designed to search for water, ice and possible signs of life.
  • This was China's first attempt to land on Mars.

The big picture: This mission fits into China’s broader plans in space.

  • The nation is currently building a space station and is aiming to develop a research station on the Moon with Russia.
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