News from the Lunar Exploration and Aerospace Engineering Center of the National Space Administration: Mars is about to enter the winter, and after the winter, the Mars rover "Zhurong", which is carrying out a patrol and exploration mission on Mars, will face more challenges.

Zhang Rongqiao, chief designer of China's first Mars exploration mission, recently revealed to reporters that the engineering team has made a detailed plan for how the "Zhurong" will "winter".

　　Like Earth, there are four seasons on Mars.

The difference is that a Martian year is equivalent to two years on Earth, with each season lasting about 6 months.

　Zhang Rongqiao, chief designer of China's first Mars exploration mission project:

At present, the main power acquisition, storage and supply of the Mars rover are in line with our original design expectations, so we have also made some corresponding plans for the subsequent harsh winter.

　　After entering winter, the temperature of Mars at night will drop below minus 100 degrees Celsius, and the probability of sand and dust weather will increase significantly.

For this reason, at the beginning of the design, the design team made targeted designs for the Zhurong Mars rover in terms of low temperature resistance, sand and dust resistance, and power security to ensure its safety during the patrol and exploration process on Mars.

　The accumulated thin dust on the surface of "Zhurong" is in normal working condition

　　Previously, the Lunar Exploration and Space Engineering Center of the National Space Administration released a set of images. It can be seen from the images of the surface of Mars taken by the orbiter that there are currently dusty weather in many places.

What is the current status of "Zhurong"?

How will the dust weather be dealt with?

Click the video to find out ↓

　　Through the two selfies taken by the Zhurong rover on May 19 last year and January 22 this year, we can clearly see that the surface of the rover is obviously covered with dust.

　Peng Song, the general deputy chief designer of the Tianwen No. 1 patrol device of the Fifth Academy of Aerospace Science and Technology Group:

At present, it is basically smooth.

It (sand and dust) will affect the power generation of the solar wing, because the dust on it will definitely reduce the power generation efficiency, which may lead to its lack of energy.

　　The Zhurong Mars rover mainly converts solar energy into electrical energy through the solar wings, thereby providing the electrical support required for the normal operation of the scientific equipment on the Mars rover.

Therefore, the dust on the solar wing has a certain influence on the conversion of light energy.

Not only that, but the dust will also have a certain impact on the temperature of the rover.

　Peng Song, general deputy chief designer of the Tianwen No. 1 patrol device of the Fifth Academy of Aerospace Science and Technology Group:

(Mars rover) On the top plate of the rover body in the middle of the wings, there are two circular transparent films scientifically called collector windows, which are the sunlight passing through the film. After shining in, it can keep the heat in the cabin of the rover, but now if it is covered with a layer of dust, less sunlight may penetrate, and then it collects less heat, which ultimately affects the energy situation.

　　It is understood that in order for the Zhurong rover to obtain enough electricity, researchers must design the solar wing to be large enough to absorb more solar energy and convert it into electricity.

According to the latest data returned by the rover, the rover has traveled more than 1.9 kilometers at present, and the scientific exploration is in normal working condition and has not been significantly affected by sand and dust. Follow-up researchers will continue to monitor the rover.

　Four designs of "Zhurong" to deal with sand and dust

　　In view of the frequent occurrence of sand and dust weather in winter, the designers formulated four measures for Zhurong.

　Peng Song, the general deputy chief designer of the Tianwen No. 1 patrol device of the Fifth Academy of Aerospace Science and Technology Group:

The first measure is that the solar wing's cells are a special material, called super-hydrophobic materials, just like lotus leaves, water droplets It can slide off when it falls, and it is easier to blow off the dust after it falls.

　　The solar wing also has a directional tracking function for the sun.

Although the height of the sun is relatively low in winter, the rover's wings will still be like sunflowers, changing positions as the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, maximizing the harvest of solar energy.

　　The third measure is that under sandy weather conditions, the rover can save physical strength and reduce energy consumption by changing the working mode.

　Peng Song, deputy chief designer of the Tianwen No. 1 patrol device of the Fifth Academy of Aerospace Science and Technology Group:

The fourth measure is to wake up from sleep. If the first three measures are not enough to solve the energy problem, the whole vehicle may be going to sleep. It means that the power is turned off.

When the dusty weather gets better, it will wake up on its own and can resume work.

　"Zhurong" inspection and detection successfully carried out international cooperation

　　Since the Zhurong rover set foot on the surface of Mars for inspection and exploration in May 2021, it has worked stably for more than 300 Martian days, and has returned a large amount of scientific exploration data.

During this period, a communication experiment was successfully completed, laying the foundation for the subsequent international cooperation in my country.

　　After Zhurong set foot on the surface of Mars, an on-orbit relay communication test was carried out with ESA's Mars Express orbiter, which was successful.

　Peng Song, general deputy chief designer of the Tianwen No. 1 patrol device of the Fifth Academy of Aerospace Science and Technology Group: It

is equivalent to sending the signal to the Mars Express satellite of ESA, and then it transfers the signal to the European space operation center, and then sends the signal to the European Space Operation Center.

The signal was transferred to our Beijing center, and a link was tested and verified, which proved that we have the ability to cooperate internationally.

　　At present, the Zhurong rover has traveled more than 1.9 kilometers on the surface of Mars and is heading south according to the established scientific exploration route.

　Peng Song, the general deputy chief designer of the Tianwen No. 1 patrol of the Fifth Academy of Aerospace Science and Technology Group:

There are some targets we are concerned about in the south, there is a large sand dune, including some exploration around the dune, and there are some near the dune. The stones have also done some detection, and generally speaking, it is still the needs of scientists.

　　In addition, the Tianwen-1 orbiter, which is conducting global remote sensing exploration of Mars, is also carrying out exploration missions as planned, focusing on typical landforms and geological units such as craters, volcanoes, canyons, and dry riverbeds to obtain high-resolution images.