China launches first Mars mission

Beijing, Jul 23 (PTI) China successfully launched its first Mars probe on Thursday from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in the southern island province of Hainan, official media here reported. About 36 minutes after the Mars probe was launched, the spacecraft, including an orbiter and a rover, was sent into the Earth-Mars transfer orbit, according to the China National Space Administration (CNSA). The Chinese Mars probe named Tianwen 1, or Quest for Heavenly Truth 1, will...