Next year brings a quartet of missions heading from Earth to Mars, including one from the Chinese National Space Administration. Freelance journalist Andrew Jones, a specialist in Chinese space, joins Jake to talk about the mission, Huoxing-1, and what to expect leading up to China’s first Mars mission.

We talk China, Space, and Huoxing-1

• Huoxing-1 mission objectives and science payloads
• YF-77 Test Firing
• How not to land an orbital rocket booster (SpaceX)
• China’s Mars Technology is Ready for 2020 Launch (IEEE Spectrum)

Follow Andrew Jones

• Andrew Jones Twitter (@AJ_FI)
• Andrew’s Space News Author Page
• Andrew’s Space.com Author Page
• Andrew’s Planetary Society Author Page
• Andrew’s Sky and Telescope Author Page

Follow Jake & WeMartians

• Website (www.wemartians.com)
• Patreon (www.patreon.com/wemartians)
• WeMartians Shop (shop.wemartians.com)
• Twitter (@we_martians)
• Jake’s Twitter (@JakeOnOrbit)
• Off-Nominal Podcast
  • Most Recent Episode: “Jim-Adjacent”

The WeMartians Season 3 Mission Patch

This is the Season 3 (2018) commemorative WeMartians Mission Patch. We’ve partnered with space fan and talented graphic artist Beth Kerner to put together a custom, 4-inch, sew-on embroidered patch. It’s limited edition, with a print-run of just 100. And you can get one for yourself starting today! They’re just $17 USD, and shipping is free anywhere on Earth (Mars is extra, though). If you’re a Station-level or higher patron, your permanent store discount applies, too!

The patch captures the broad narratives of our third season of podcasts. It includes the Falcon Heavy inaugural flight, the InSight launch and landing, and the global dust storm that ended the Opportunity mission.

WeMartians theme music is “RetroFuture” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) and arranged by Jake Robins with Public Domain NASA audio and WeMartians interview samples. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/