Localization and Surface Characterization by Zhurong Mars Rover at Utopia Planitia

Abstract

China’s first Mars rover, Zhurong, has successfully touched down on the southern Utopia Planitia of Mars at 109.925° E, 25.066° N, and since performed cooperative multiscale investigations with the Tianwen-1 orbiter. Here we present primary localization and surface characterization results based on complementary data of the first 60 sols. The Zhurong rover has traversed 450.9 m southwards over a flat surface with mild wheel slippage (less than 0.2 in slip ratio). The encountered crescent-shaped sand dune indicates a NE-SW local wind direction, consistent with larger-range remote-sensing observations. Soil parameter analysis based on terramechanics indicates that the topsoil has high bearing strength and cohesion, and its equivalent stiffness and internal friction angle are ~1390-5872 kPa∙m-n and ~21°-34° respectively. Rocks observed strewn with dense pits, or showing layered and flaky structures, are presumed to be involved in physical weathering like severe wind erosion and potential chemical weathering processes. These preliminary observations suggest great potential of in-situ investigations by the scientific payload suite of the Zhurong rover in obtaining new clues of the region’s aeolian and aqueous history. Cooperative investigations using the related payloads on both the rover and the obiter could peek into the habitability evolution of the northern lowlands on Mars.