China Aims to Complete Global Geologic Map of Mars by 2028, Intensifying Space Rivalry with U.S.
China is planning to finalize a global geologic map of Mars by the end of 2028. This initiative is a crucial component of the preparations for China's Tianwen-3 mission, its next endeavor to the Red Planet. The chief scientist of the Tianwen-3 mission stated that the map will encompass the entire Martian surface, integrating data and findings from China's first Mars rover, Ju-rong. The Ju-rong rover successfully landed on Mars in May 2021, making China the second nation, after the United States, to achieve a Mars rover landing. Previous findings from Chinese missions have indicated the presence of an ancient ocean on Mars approximately 3.5 to 4 billion years ago, a period when Mars was believed to have a thicker atmosphere and a warmer climate. State media reports that the mapping project will utilize artificial intelligence to interpret data collected from prior missions.
