China is set to land on Mars for the first time China will attempt to land its first rover and lander on Mars, aiming to become the second country to do so successfully May 14, 2021, 4:20pm EDT If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement. Share this story Photo: Xinhua via Getty Images Sometime between tonight and next Wednesday, China will attempt to land a pair of robots on the surface of Mars, making a daring bid to become the second country to land and operate a rover on the Red Planet. The Tianwen-1 spacecraft, which has been orbiting Mars since February, will eject a rover and lander bundled together for a seven-minute plunge through the thin Martian atmosphere.