China has for the first time unveiled a model of what would be China's mission to Mars. Called Yinghuo-2, it is likely to be launched in 2020 and will have an orbiter and a lander
China has showcased a model of its Mars mission at the 17th China International Industry Fair in Shanghai. The gold colored model has an orbiter and a lander, and is one-third the size of the probe, reported Xinhua news agency.
The model looks like a complete exploration system, which consists of a prototype Mars rover. According to media reports, China is planning to probe deep into the solar system and go beyond the efforts of NASA and India's successful Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan).
China State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence's lunar exploration programme and space engineering centre director Liu Jizhong was quoted by Press Trust of India saying: "When exploring the unknown, we should not just follow others.
"China should be more creative."
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched its Mars mission in 2014.
India's first venture into the interplanetary space, MOM, will explore and observe Mars surface features, morphology, mineralogy and the atmosphere.
NASA said it will provide details of key science findings from its ongoing exploration of Mars on 5 November.
China is also planning to launch four scientific space probes over the next year to focus on the detection of dark matter, quantum science experiments, space life science and the observation of black holes.
In order to increase its presence in the aerospace industry, the country is building on its commercial aircraft manufacturing. It completed the production of its first locally built passenger plane C919 narrow body to compete with Airbus and Boeing.