China space programme targets July launch for Mars mission

China space programme targets July launch for Mars mission

China is targeting a July launch for its ambitious plans for a Mars mission which will include landing a remote-controlled robot on the surface of the red planet, the company in charge of the project has said.. The Mars mission is among a number of new space projects China is pursuing, including putting Chinese astronauts on the moon and having a space station by 2022.. Beijing had been planning the Mars mission for sometime this year, but China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) has confirmed it could come as early as July.. Image: NASA/AFP / NASA Called 'Tianwen', the Chinese mission will put a probe into orbit around Mars and land a rover to explore and analyze the planet's surface. Egypt reduces quarantine period for returnees from 14 to 7 days.