China’s Mars probe project is on its way to being approved. The first Mars rover will orbit Mars, land on Mars and tour around the planet, said an official from an aerospace think tank at a press conference.

A film about the Mars probe named “Exploration — Underway” was released at the press conference, which was jointly held by two magazines about space and satellites.

One of the organizers, Editor-in-Chief Pang Zhihao, said that China may launch its Mars probe in 2020.

Ye Peijian, the chief designer of the Chinese Lunar Exploration Program, said in May 2014 that although China lags behind India in the arena of Mars probes, Chinese scientists should be able to accomplish the tasks of orbiting around and landing on Mars by 2018. Ye hoped that China could start the project as soon as possible.

Ye also said that China is capable of fulfilling two tasks at one time. Since Mars gets closest to Earth every 26 years, Ye hopes that China can work out plans as soon as possible in order to begin the Mars probe project in 2016.

Long Lehao, a rocket expert, confirmed that China is ready for a Mars probe.

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