The Heat: China’s planned mission to Mars

The Heat

In the movie “The Martian,” life on Mars for Matt Damon is a scientific adventure. Now, China wants to see what all the fuss is about.

Mars is at least 55 million kilometers from Earth. Getting there is so complicated that few countries have tried it. In fact, among the more than 40 missions to Mars since the 1960’s about half have failed. Fast forward to late last month, when China announced an ambitious plan to orbit, land and deploy a rover on the red planet all in one mission.

The goal is to reach Mars by the year 2021 when the Chinese Communist Party marks its centenary.

CCTV’s Tang Bo has the latest on the space mission.

Joining out panel to discuss China’s mission to Mars:

  • Leroy Chiao, a NASA astronaut who spent 229 days in space over four missions, including a stint as Commander of the International Space Station.
  • Karl Bergquist, administrator for the European Space Agency’s Department of International Relations.
  • John Logsdon, a board member of the Planetary Society and founder of George Washington University’s Space Policy Institute
  • Yang Yuguang, professor with the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation.