These elements were part of the Tianwen-1 missions Entry, Descent, and Landing (EDL) module. Whereas the back cover made sure that the rover and lander securely made it through deep-space and made it through the unstable trip through Mars environment, the parachute was what enabled their regulated descent through the environment so they could make a soft landing.
These components are simply noticeable in the upper right corner of the top image while a cluster of stones of different shapes shows up left wing. More recent images gotten by the rover were released on July 15th, 2021, which showed the rover inspecting the back cover and parachute more closely (see below). The very first image (leading left) was gotten 3 days prior and shows these 2 components on the rovers left side as it advanced its southbound patrol.
As the CNSA suggested in a press declaration that was launched in addition to the images:
” The photo reveals the complete view of the parachute and the total back after aerodynamic ablation. Cover structure, the attitude control engine diversion hole on the back cover is plainly recognizable, the rover is about 30 meters far from the back cover and about 350 meters away from the landing site throughout imaging.”
The 3rd and 2nd images (black and white) were taken by the front and rear challenge avoidance electronic cameras as the rover made its method and departure from the back cover and chute. The 4th image shows the parachute after it was released throughout the landers descent over Utopia Planitia (where it landed) on May 15th. Another image was launched by the CNSA the following day, which shows Tianwen-1s landing site.
This image was taken by the orbiter component of the mission on June 2nd, days after the lander and rover element safely landed. The places of the lander, the rover, the parachute, and back cover, and the heat guard are all shown in white. The 2 white dots at the leading right corner are the lander and rover, the parachute and back cover are almost straight underneath it (the extended white mark being the chute) while the heat guard is at the bottom.
The Tianwen-1 mission was quite the plume in the cap of the CNSA, and not simply due to the fact that it was Chinas very first mission to Mars. By effectively releasing this mission, China became the first country to reach Mars with an objective that consisted of a rover, lander, and orbiter component. Prior to this, every area agency that effectively sent out a robotic objective to Mars started with orbiters, followed by surface objectives– landers first, then landers with rovers.
The Zhurong rover makes China the second nation in the world (after the United States) to operate a rover and land on the Martian surface area. This will be followed in the near future by the Rosalind Franklin rover (part of the ESA-Roscosmos ExoMars program) which will introduce from Baikonur Cosmodrome at some point this September and is expected to come to Mars on June 10th, 2023.
These missions will help pave the way for human expedition, which China is now hoping to do (together with NASA) during the 2030s. Just like all the crewed lunar missions prepared for the future, the human expedition of Mars is expected to be an international affair!
Initially published on Universe Today.

Whenever the rover encountered significant landforms, it relied on its Mars Surface Compound Detector (MarSCoDe) and Multispectral Camera (MSCam) to perform fixed-point scans to determine their structure. Among the brand-new images are the 2 Martian rocks shown above (thanks to CNSA via Xinhuanet) that exposed the rocks texture functions, the thick layers of dust covering them, and impressions left by the ruts of the rover.
Other images (shown listed below, likewise from CNSA through Xinhuanet) consist of a landscape shot that was taken by Zhurong on June 26th, the rovers 42nd day on the Martian surface area (Sol 42). On this day, the rover arrived in a sandy location and took images of a red dune situated roughly 6 meters (~ 20 feet) away. As you can see (top gallery image), the dune has numerous rocks strewn about it, the one straight ahead of Zhurong measuring 34 cm (13.4 inches) wide.
The next image (bottom left) was taken on July 4th, Zhurongs 50th day on the Martian surface area (Sol 50), after the rover drove to the south side of the dune– which determines 40 m (~ 130 ft) long, 8 m (26.25 feet) large and 0.6 m high (2 ft). The final and 5th landscape image (bottom right) was taken when the Zhurong rover was at a distance of 210 m (690 feet) from its landing website and 130 m (~ 425 feet) from the landers back cover and parachute.

Considering that the rover released to the surface area of Mars, it has been traveling southward to inspect the surface and check out and has actually taken day-to-day pictures of rocks, dune, and other features utilizing its Navigation and Topography Cameras (NaTeCam). On the other hand, other instruments– like the Mars Rover Penetrating Radar (RoPeR), Mars Rover Magnetometer (RoMAG), Mars Climate Station (MCS)– have actually likewise been gathering information on Mars electromagnetic field, weather, and subsurface.

More recent images acquired by the rover were released on July 15th, 2021, which showed the rover examining the back cover and parachute more closely (see listed below). By successfully releasing this mission, China ended up being the very first country to reach Mars with a mission that included a lander, rover, and orbiter aspect. Prior to this, every space firm that effectively sent a robotic objective to Mars started with orbiters, followed by surface area missions– landers first, then landers with rovers.

Considering that then, the rover has actually spent 63 Earth days carrying out science operations on the surface of Mars and has traveled over 450 meters (1475 feet). On Friday, July 9th, and once again on July 15th, the CNSA launched brand-new images of the Red Planet that were taken by the rover as it made its method across the surface.

On May 14th, 2021, the China National Space Agency (CNSA) achieved another major turning point when the Tianwen-1 lander effectively soft-landed on Mars, making China the 2nd nation worldwide to land a mission on Mars and establish interactions from the surface area. Soon thereafter, China National Space Agency (CNSA) shared the first images taken by the Tianwen-1 lander.
By May 22nd, 2021, the Zhurong rover came down from its lander and drove on the Martian surface area for the first time. Ever since, the rover has spent 63 Earth days carrying out science operations on the surface area of Mars and has actually traveled over 450 meters (1475 feet). On Friday, July 9th, and once again on July 15th, the CNSA released new pictures of the Red Planet that were taken by the rover as it made its way across the surface area.