Mars probe model gives taste of future

A one-third size model of China's Mars probe made its debut in Shanghai on Tuesday at the China International Industry Fair in a display of the country's latest technologies.

The gold-colored model of the planned smart probe had two main parts - a hexahedron for orbit, and a cone-shaped portion for landing - illustrating how the probe will be able to perform all necessary functions and rove the planet autonomously.

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp, the developer of the probe, is "still working on completing the real probe", and the project is going smoothly", according to its printed information.