China's space dream scores big win with the first mission to Mars

A Chinese spacecraft has made it to Mars for the first time, boosting China’s attempt to be a space power on par with the US.

Tianwen-1 reached Mars’ orbit, Chinese state media reported at 8:57 pm. Beijing time on Wednesday. It will orbit for several months before sending a rover to land on a large plain on the Martian surface.

The Chinese mission is part of a flurry of visitors to the Red Planet that includes NASA’s Mars 2020 Perse­ve­rance Rover, which is likely to reach Mars later this month and will test technologies for future human exploration. The Hope spacecraft from