A Chinese spacecraft is on its way to explore Mars. The goal is to observe the planet’s atmosphere and surface, searching for signs of water and ice. China’s largest rocket, the Long March 5, blasted off on Thursday from the southern island of Hainan. It’s going to be a long journey, but not exactly a lonely one. Last Sunday, the United Arab Emirates launched a space probe becoming the first Arab country to send a mission to Mars. And next week, the United States will launch its Perseverance rover.  All three spacecraft are expected to reach Mars next February. China is the first country to send an orbiter, a lander and a rover in a single mission. And is there a chance that China and US rovers will cross paths on the planet.

To discuss:

• Dr. Michio Kaku is a theoretical physicist and professor of physics at the City College and City University of New York.
• Yang Yuguang is a professor from China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation.
• John Zarrella is a journalist covering the US space program.
• Stephen Clark is a journalist for Spaceflight Now.

For more:

China launched a Mars probe on Thursday, aiming to complete orbiting, landing and roving in one mission. The probe plans to reach the Red Planet around February 2021. https://t.co/bwkXp9L1BA pic.twitter.com/Og28PvbxZl

— CGTN America (@cgtnamerica) July 23, 2020

Everything we know about China's first rover mission to Mars https://t.co/M5Yi8uYwrZ

— Newsweek (@Newsweek) July 23, 2020