عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Varieties

China's Zhurong Rover Touches Down on Red Planet

A replica of the Tianwen-1 Mars rover is displayed during an exhibition inside the National Museum in Beijing, China March 3, 2021. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang
A replica of the Tianwen-1 Mars rover is displayed during an exhibition inside the National Museum in Beijing, China March 3, 2021. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang
TT
20
TT

China's Zhurong Rover Touches Down on Red Planet

A replica of the Tianwen-1 Mars rover is displayed during an exhibition inside the National Museum in Beijing, China March 3, 2021. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang
A replica of the Tianwen-1 Mars rover is displayed during an exhibition inside the National Museum in Beijing, China March 3, 2021. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang

China's probe to Mars touched down on the Red Planet early Saturday to deploy its Zhurong rover, state media reported.

The lander carrying Zhurong completed the treacherous descent through the Martian atmosphere using a parachute to navigate the "seven minutes of terror" as it is known, aiming for a vast northern lava plain known as the Utopia Planitia.

It "successfully landed in the pre-selected area", state broadcaster CCTV said, launching a special TV program dedicated to the mission called "Nihao Mars" ("Hello Mars").

The official Xinhua news agency cited the China National Space Administration (CNSA) in confirming the touchdown.

It makes China the first country to carry out an orbiting, landing and roving operation during its first mission to Mars -- a feat unmatched by the only other two nations to reach the Red Planet so far, the US and Russia.

President Xi Jinping sent his "warm congratulations and sincere greetings to all members who have participated in the Mars exploration mission", Xinhua reported.

China has now sent astronauts into space, powered probes to the Moon and landed a rover on Mars, the most prestigious of all prizes in the competition for dominion of space.

Zhurong, named after a Chinese mythical fire god, arrives a few months behind America's latest probe to Mars -- Perseverance.

Most Viewed

 
Varieties

Video Shows Dolphin Calf Birth and First Breath at Chicago Zoo

This photo provided by Brookfield Zoo Chicago, bottlenose dolphins "Allie" with "Tapeko" are joined by the newly born calf at the Brookfield Zoo Chicago on Saturday, June 7, 2025. (Brookfield Zoo Chicago via AP)
This photo provided by Brookfield Zoo Chicago, bottlenose dolphins "Allie" with "Tapeko" are joined by the newly born calf at the Brookfield Zoo Chicago on Saturday, June 7, 2025. (Brookfield Zoo Chicago via AP)
TT
20
TT

Video Shows Dolphin Calf Birth and First Breath at Chicago Zoo

This photo provided by Brookfield Zoo Chicago, bottlenose dolphins "Allie" with "Tapeko" are joined by the newly born calf at the Brookfield Zoo Chicago on Saturday, June 7, 2025. (Brookfield Zoo Chicago via AP)
This photo provided by Brookfield Zoo Chicago, bottlenose dolphins "Allie" with "Tapeko" are joined by the newly born calf at the Brookfield Zoo Chicago on Saturday, June 7, 2025. (Brookfield Zoo Chicago via AP)

A bottlenose dolphin at a Chicago zoo gave birth to a calf early Saturday morning with the help of a fellow mom, in a successful birth recorded on video by zoo staff.

The dolphin calf was born at Brookfield Zoo Chicago early Saturday morning as a team of veterinarians monitored and cheered on the mom, a 38-year-old bottlenose dolphin named Allie.

“Push, push, push,” one observer can be heard shouting in video released by the zoo Saturday, as Allie swims around the tank, the calf’s little tail fins poking out below her own, The Associated Press reported.

Then the calf wriggles free and instinctively darts to the surface of the pool for its first breath. Also in the tank was an experienced mother dolphin named Tapeko, 43, who stayed close to Allie through her more than one hour of labor.

In the video, she can be seen following the calf as it heads to the surface, and staying with it as it takes that first breath.

It is natural for dolphins to look out for each other during a birth, zoo staff said.
“That’s very common both in free-ranging settings but also in aquaria,” said Brookfield Zoo Chicago Senior Veterinarian Dr. Jennifer Langan in a video statement. “It provides the mom extra protection and a little bit of extra help to help get the calf to the surface to help it breath in those couple minutes where she’s still having really strong contractions.”

In a written statement, zoo officials said early signs indicate that the calf is in good health. They estimate it weighs around 35 pounds (16 kilograms) and stretches nearly four feet in length (115-120 centimeters). That is about the weight and length of an adult golden retriever dog.

The zoo’s Seven Seas exhibit will be closed as the calf bonds with its mother and acclimates with other dolphins in its group.

As part of that bonding, the calf has already learned to slipstream, or draft alongside its mother so that it doesn’t have to work as hard to move. Veterinarians will monitor progress in nursing, swimming and other milestones particularly closely over the next 30 days.