China's remote-controlled Zhurong rover drove down the ramp of its landing capsule and onto the Martian surface, Beijing's space administration said Saturday, making
China the second country after the
United States to successfully deploy a land vehicle on the Red Planet.
Zhurong touched down last week and underwent diagnostics tests for several days before joining U.S. rovers Curiosity and Perseverance in simultaneous, but separate explorations of Mars.
The rover, which sent its first round of images back to Earth earlier this week, is expected to be deployed for 90 days, during which it will study Mars' surface and atmosphere. Read more at NPR and
NBC News.