departure, Teams in China, Europe, the United Arab Emirates and the United States are currently working on Mars missions. The focus is on the months of July and August 2020, because Mars and Earth are particularly advantageous during this time. During this time, the flight time is “only” between six and ten months. If you miss this window, you have to wait another two years. These four missions start:
NASA: The US space agency sends the “Mars Rover 2020”. NASA has the greatest experience: In 1976 “Viking 1” made the first landing on Mars. This was followed by “Pathfinder”, “Opportunity” and the Mars vehicles “Curiosity-Rover” and “Insight-Lander”.
ESA: The EU space agency shoots the “Rosalind Franklin” rover to the Red Planet with a Russian rocket as part of the “ExoMars” mission.
China: A Chinese probe has already landed on the moon. Mars is new territory for Beijing’s China National Space Administration (CNSA).
Arabia: Surprise participants are the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Your spacecraft “al-Amal” (“Hope”) is launched into space by a Japanese launcher. (WEK)
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