China to launch its Mars orbiter in 2009

Chinanews, Shanghai, December 4 – After the first success of the Chang’e Lunar Probe Project, China is planning to launch Yinghuo-1, its first Mars orbiter, in 2009.   Yinghuo-1 will be launched by a Russian rocket in October, 2009, and it will reach the Mars in September, 2010, when it will send pictures of the Mars back to earth.   Currently, the prototype of the orbiter is under test, and it will be docked with Russian rocket in next May.   The Yinghuo-1 will run at an orbit that is 800 km – 80,000 km above the surface of the Mars, and its mission will last for a year.   So far, several other Mars orbiters have been launched, and Yinghuo-1 is ready to join them.