A nightstand on six wheels: a prototype of its Mars rover was shown in China (4 photos)

Chinese state television has shown prototypes of vehicles that could fly to the Moon and Mars.





Scientists from universities across China have been testing prototypes of rovers that could help explore the Moon and Mars, Space.com reports.

Various prototype rovers are being tested at the Jilin University Laboratory in northeastern China, which provides imitation lunar regolith and Martian soil.

A four-wheeled rover is among the vehicles being tested. According to Chinese scientists, the vehicle can overcome soft Martian soil and obstacles more than 20 centimeters high.



"We are here to test how small wheels interact with the lunar soil. Our goal is to make the rover/moon vehicle travel longer distances and perform better on the lunar surface," Zhang Rui, a professor at the College of Biological and Agricultural Engineering at Jilin University, told state broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV).

Other robotic explorers also include six-wheeled designs. Chinese scientists are also experimenting with different types of wheels for rovers. They say the key to developing the vehicles is to simulate conditions beyond Earth.





"We are currently working on simulating Martian and lunar soil. Through such research, we can lay a more solid foundation for deep space exploration," said Li Xiujuan, a senior engineer at the College of Biological and Agricultural Engineering.



China has not yet indicated whether any of the rovers shown will participate in future missions. It is known that data collected during the prototype tests will be incorporated into the design of future missions.

China is planning a series of missions to the Moon later this decade, and also plans to build the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) in the 2030s. China is also planning a Mars sample return mission, which would involve sending a small rover to the Red Planet.