China to announce name of its first Mars exploration mission
Picture released on Aug 23, 2016 by the lunar probe and space project center of Chinese State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence shows the concept portraying what the Mars rover and lander would look like. [Photo/Xinhua]
BEIJING -- The name and logo of China's first Mars exploration mission will be made public on the Space Day of China, which will fall on April 24, according to the China National Space Administration (CNSA).
China plans to launch the Mars probe in 2020, aiming to complete orbiting, landing and roving in one mission.
Since 2016, China has set April 24 as the country's Space Day to mark the launch of its first satellite "Dongfanghong-1" into space on April 24, 1970. This year will be the 50th anniversary of the start of China's entry into space.
The various activities on Space Day have become a window for the Chinese public and the world to get a better understanding of China's aerospace progress.
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