China invited observers to a successful test Thursday of its Mars lander as the country pushes for inclusion in more global space projects. The demonstration of hovering, obstacle avoidance, and deceleration capabilities was conducted at a site outside Beijing simulating conditions on the Red Planet, where the pull of gravity is about one-third that of Earth's.
China plans to launch a lander and rover to Mars next year to explore parts of the planet in detail. China's burgeoning space program achieved a lunar milestone earlier this year by landing a probe on the mysterious far side of the moon. It has developed rapidly, especially since it conducted its first crewed mission in 2003 and has sought cooperation with space agencies from Europe and elsewhere.
China’s ambitions continue to grow as it seeks to rival the U.S., Russia, and Europe in space and cement its position as a regional and global power. It is gradually constructing its own larger, more permanent space station in which it has invited foreign participation. The lander on Thursday successfully avoided ground obstacles during a simulated low-gravity descent.
