China’s Zhurong Mars rover activated as planned and radioed photos of the Martian surface to Earth. The first images released by the space agency CNSA showed the automated vehicle rolling out of the landing capsule. This was initially followed by a black-and-white photo of a rocky, dusty plain stretching to the horizon of the alien planet. The images are transmitted via the Tianwen-1 satellite, which orbits Mars and maintains contact with the exploration vehicle. Zhurong is now expected to take measurements and send images for three months. fin