The launch attempt follows that of the UAE's Hope orbiter, launched on Monday from Japan. Like the Emirates, China is taking advantage of the brief window every 26 months or so when Earth and Mars are closer than usual
The Long March 5 Y-4 rocket, carrying an unmanned Mars probe of the Tianwen-1 mission, takes off from Wenchang Space Launch Center in Wenchang, Hainan Province, China July 23, 2020. Image: REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins
©2019 New York Times News Service