China's first satellite to probe Mars has been transported to Russia for a launch later this year, state media reported Thursday.
Yinghuo-1, the 110-kilogramme (242-pound) Chinese satellite, is scheduled to be launched along with Russia's "Phobos Explorer" aboard a Zenit rocket in October after final testing, the Beijing News said.
After entering Mars' orbit -- 10 to 11 months later -- the orbiter will probe the Martian space environment, with a special focus on what happened to the water that appears to have once been abundant on the planet's surface.
The satellite, developed by the Shanghai Space Administration, will carry eight pieces of equipment including two cameras, the report said.
Best of luck to them! Mars is pretty unforgiving with its Galactic Ghoul!
(and that's an itsy bitsy orbiter)
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