Major Breakthrough! China and Russia finalize space cooperation, with a Russian-made spectrometer set to ride aboard Tianwen-3 to unravel the mysteries of Mars' atmosphere.
Hello everyone, another significant deep-space development is now on the radar.
On October 21, the Institute of Space Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IKI) disclosed to TASS that China and Russia have signed a memorandum of understanding. A newly developed infrared spectrometer from Russia, known as ACAE, will be integrated onto China’s Tianwen-3 Mars orbiter, marking its journey toward the Red Planet.
Many may initially interpret this as a joint development of a Mars probe by both nations.
It is essential to clarify: the spacecraft platform remains Chinese; the instrument is developed by Russia. This constitutes a payload integration collaboration, not a co-development of the entire spacecraft.
Tianwen-3 represents a cornerstone mission for China — a Mars sample return endeavor.
Under current planning, the mission is scheduled for launch around 2028, aiming to land on Mars, collect surface samples, and return the precious material to Earth by 2031.
The ACAE spectrometer will be mounted on the Mars-orbiting component of the Tianwen-3 mission.
Officially named the Mars Atmosphere Climate and Escape Observatory, the instrument can be understood as a “high-precision atmospheric thermometer” for Mars.
Its core objective is to conduct long-term monitoring of the Martian atmosphere: identifying gas compositions, tracking seasonal climate variations, and continuously measuring the rate and patterns of atmospheric escape into space.
Russian scientists have acknowledged the tight timeline.
With the launch window for Tianwen-3 approaching, challenges remain in completing instrument development, testing, and integration with the Chinese orbiter, creating substantial schedule pressure.
Some online observers question: why incorporate foreign instruments when China already possesses its own scientific equipment?
Tianwen-3 is designed as an open international collaboration project. The orbiter includes dedicated payload accommodation capacity, inviting credible scientific teams worldwide to contribute instruments for Mars exploration.
Diverse instruments from different countries, employing varied technical approaches, can provide complementary data and enable cross-validation, thereby enhancing humanity’s comprehensive understanding of Mars.
The Chinese side will supply the spacecraft platform, power, communications, and in-orbit support. The Russian side is responsible for instrument development, and the resulting data will be made available to the global scientific community.
Once Tianwen-3 successfully enters orbit, the orbiter will simultaneously await docking with the sample ascent vehicle and prepare to return samples to Earth. During this period, the Russian-built infrared spectrometer will persistently monitor the Martian atmosphere from orbit — effectively “palpating” the planet’s climatic pulse.
Mars holds many unresolved enigmas: Could it once have supported life? How did water and atmosphere vanish over time?
This collaboration between Chinese and Russian space scientists adds another crucial piece to the puzzle of understanding Mars.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1879699483471872/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author.