China releases photos from Tianwen-1 Mars probe after landing

A picture taken by China's Zhurong Mars rover showing the Tianwen-1 probe system and the surface of Mars. /CNSA

The China National Space Administration on Wednesday released photos taken after the landing of the Tianwen-1 Mars probe.

The black-and-write picture was taken by a camera on the front of the Zhurong Mars rover. The camera serves as an "eye" for the rover to detect obstacles so the rover can get around them.

The lens of the camera has a very wide angle and that's why the picture looks so twisted that the horizon is displayed as a curve.

The two "arms" shown on the top of the picture are parts of a radar system.

The two "rails" extended from the platform to the Mars surface are used to guide the rover to the ground.

The arms and rails were initially hidden in the lander and have now unfolded successfully – a sign that the whole system is functioning well.

The back of China's Zhurong Mars rover. /CNSA

The colored picture was taken by a navigation camera pointed at the tail of the rover. The solar panels and antennas of the rover can be seen unfolded as designed.

Two video clips were also sent back to Earth showing the separation process of the orbiter and lander of the Tianwen-1 Mars probe.

A video clip shows the separation process of the orbiter and lander of the Tianwen-1 Mars probe. /CNSA

Another video clip shows the separation process of the orbiter and lander of the Tianwen-1 Mars probe. /CNSA

The Tianwen-1 established a data link back to Earth on May 15 and started sending back images on Monday.

Now the Zhurong rover is getting ready to walk down the rail to actually get its feet on the red planet.