Nasa issued a statement on May 19 local time congratulating the Chinese National Space Administration on receiving the first batch of images from the Zhurong rover. Previously, some foreign netizens questioned why Zhu Rong did not send back photos after landing, and now it is possible to "relax".
NASA congratulates China twice a week
On May 19, the China National Space Administration released images taken by the Zhurong rover during the landing process of the first Mars exploration mission, the Tianwen-1 probe, and the Zhurong rover. In the image, the landing platform leaves the ramp and the Solar Wing, Antenna and other mechanisms of the Zhurong Mars Rover are deployed normally.
Photos taken by Zhu Rong were retweeted on social media Twitter
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said in a statement published on NASA's official website: "Congratulations to the Chinese National Space Administration for receiving the first images from the Zhurong rover! ”
Nelson said that as the number of robotic probes launched to Mars by the international scientific community continues to increase, the United States and the rest of the world are looking forward to Zhu Rong's new discoveries to promote human understanding of the Red Planet. "I look forward to future international discoveries that will help to understand and develop the capabilities humans need to set foot on Mars."
Tianwen-1 and Zhurong rover successfully landed in the southern part of the Martian utopian plain on May 15, leaving a Chinese imprint on Mars for the first time and taking an important step in China's interstellar exploration journey.
On May 15, NASA tweeted its deputy director of the Science Mission Bureau, Thomas Zubchin, on social media: "China's first Mars probe 'Zhu Rong' landed on Mars, congratulations to the China National Space Administration 'Tianwen-1' team!" Together with the global scientific community, I look forward to China's mission to Mars and making an important contribution to human understanding of the Red Planet. ”
Previously, many netizens were concerned about when Zhu Rong would be able to send back photos and videos of Mars. Some foreign netizens said that the Image was quickly transmitted back after the Landing of the American Perseverance Rover, and why did zhu Rong not "move" after such a long time? Some foreign netizens even mocked the landing animation forwarded by China International Television (CGTN) after the post.
On May 17, the orbiter implemented the fourth close-fire braking, entered the relay communication orbit, established a stable relay communication link for the rover, and successively transmitted back image data. With the announcement of the images sent back by Zhu Rong, these doubtful voices can be stopped
NASA hearings display photos of the Zhu Rong
In addition, NASA Director Nelson said at the first congressional hearing after taking office on the same day that he should face up to a series of space competitions such as China's moon landing plan. He also held up photos taken by China's Zhurong rover at an online hearing in the House of Representatives.
NASA Director Nelson shows off the photographs taken by the Zhu Rong
Nelson told lawmakers that China plans to launch three large landers into the moon's south pole in the coming years, while NASA currently has only one small lander to travel to the same area in the next two years.
Scientists are particularly interested in the moon's south pole, where the frozen water could be used to make rocket fuel and oxygen for future astronaut missions.
Nelson also cited reports that China's National Space Administration aims to get astronauts on missions to the moon and then land sometime in the 2020s.
"In other words, they're going to send humans to the moon," he said. This tells us that the United States needs to get rid of the burden of the [budget] and get our landing system working vigorously. ”
Nelson showed cameras twice in a virtual hearing of the Zhu Rong taking photos and said China's space program "is adding new elements to whether the United States wants to take its return to the moon seriously."
Nandu reporter Shi Minglei