China's First Mars Probe to Blast Off in 2009

Chen Changya, a researcher in charge of the China Mars Rover project, said on Sunday that China's first Mars probe is scheduled to be launched atop a Russian rocket in October 2009. The probe is expected to reach Mars in September of 2010 and will then take and send China's first picture of Mars. He also said that the probe is currently undergoing a series of tests and will be ready to attach to the rocket by May. The probe, called Yinghuo I, will be equipped with seven scientific devices including cameras and equipment to analyze magnetic levels as well as to explore the disappearance of water on the planet.

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