Wenchang (China), July 23

China launched an unmanned probe to Mars on Thursday in its first impartial mission to go to one other planet, a bid for international management in house and show of its technological prowess and ambition.

At 12:41 p.m. (0441 GMT), China’s largest provider rocket, the Long March 5 Y-4, blasted off with the probe from Wenchang Space Launch Centre on the southern island province of Hainan. Reuters