Beijing: China has completed the aerodynamics design of a Mars probe now being testing ahead of a planned launch in 2020.

The rare details about China's progress in its Mars mission were revealed  during China's annual parliamentary sitting by a researcher with the 11th Institute of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Group.

Zhou Weijiang, a member of the parliament's advisory committee, told science reporters that complex aerodynamic shape and heat design work was complete.

"China's Mars exploration mission will strive to realise three goals of encirclement, landing and patrol," China's Science and Technology Daily reported.

The high speed of the landing process posed thorny issues to prevent the probe burning up.