23 Jul 2020

China goes to Mars while the US evicts China's consulate

From Lately, 10:30 pm on 23 July 2020

China has launched its first rover mission to Mars — Tianwen-1 — which will take seven months to reach the Red Planet. Meanwhile the Trump Administration has requested the China consulate leaves Houston, Texas. The ABC's Bill Birtles with an update from Beijing.

A Long March-5 rocket, carrying an orbiter, lander and rover as part of the Tianwen-1 mission to Mars, lifts off from the Wenchang Space Launch Centre in southern China's Hainan Province on 23 July 2020.

Photo: AFP