The Tianwen program

Mars observations and the next questions for small worlds

Explore Tianwen-1’s Mars orbiter, landing system and Zhurong rover, then examine the dated objectives announced for Tianwen-2. Learn to distinguish platforms, measurements, scientific interpretations and future plans.

5 lessons25 min of lessons + 8 min challengeBeginner to Intermediate

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Suggested preparation is listed in the course · Start whenever you’re ready

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Tianwen-1’s orbiter at Mars, photographed by a detachable camera released from the spacecraft. This is a mission photograph, not an artist’s rendering. Display image resized and compressed.

Ling Xin / CNSA · Image source · CC BY 4.0

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01 Helpful first

Mars as a changing world
Read landscapes, test the water story, and choose what to measure next.
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Robots and autonomous exploration
Move, sense, decide—and keep the evidence
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02 You are here

The Tianwen program

Mars observations and the next questions for small worlds

5 lessons · 25 minLoading progress…

Start whenever you’re ready. Preparation is suggested, and every course stays open.

03 Next directions

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No follow-on course currently lists this one as preparation. Explore another subject or revisit an idea that caught your interest.

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Trace the full preparation path 15 courses

One suggested order from the foundations to The Tianwen program. Shared starting points appear once; skip anything you already know.

Meet the Solar SystemEarlier foundation · 45 min
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How we know things about spaceEarlier foundation · 48 min
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Mars as a changing worldDirect preparation · 60 min
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Measuring an enormous universeEarlier foundation · 48 min
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Motion and forcesEarlier foundation · 48 min
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Gravity and orbitsEarlier foundation · 37 min
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Energy and momentumEarlier foundation · 51 min
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Light and wavesEarlier foundation · 48 min
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Matter and heat in spaceEarlier foundation · 54 min
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Inside a spacecraftEarlier foundation · 54 min
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Math tools for spaceEarlier foundation · 49 min
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How spacecraft find their wayEarlier foundation · 54 min
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Electricity and magnetismEarlier foundation · 54 min
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Talking across spaceEarlier foundation · 56 min
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Robots and autonomous explorationDirect preparation · 48 min
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Then: The Tianwen program →

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Correct answer: +10
Lesson complete: +25
All lessons complete: +100
Final challenge: +50

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Inside this course

5 lessons

Each lesson builds on the last. Read the story, explore the sources, and check your understanding.

0 of 5 lessons complete

— / 475 pointsEarned in this course

Put it all togetherTianwen program challenge5 questions · 8 min · Final review Where this course fits →

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