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While China's Zhurong is not as technologically advanced as NASA's Perseverance, which is also currently roving Mars, its presence sends a clear signal that China's space capabilities are catching up with those of the United States. Weighing around 529 pounds (240 kilograms) and equipped with six scientific instruments, Zhurong was launched by a type of rocked called Long March 5 from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in Hainan, China, on July 23, 2020. The rover spent seven months en route to Mars before entering its orbit in February.

Tianwen-1, or "Quest for Heavenly Truth" as China's mission is called, is one of three that launched last summer, along with NASA's Perseverance rover, which landed on Mars in February, and the United Arab Emirates' Hope Probe, which entered orbit around Mars in February as well. Unlike the US and China missions, the UAE probe is not intended to land on Mars -- just study the planet from orbit.