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3mo ago

China’s Tianwen-2 probe launches to sample Earth’s quasi-satellite Kamo’oalewa

The probe’s successful solar panel deployment marks the start of a two-year journey to collect pristine samples from a tumbling near-Earth asteroid.

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The Hubble Space Telescope captured an image of 311P/Pan-STARRS on September 23, 2013.
China's Tianwen-2 probe is transported to its launch area, after completing its scheduled assembly, testing and fueling at the technical area of the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 18, 2025. The probe is scheduled for launch at the end of May, according to the China National Space Administration (CNSA) on Sunday. It will subsequently conduct functional checks and joint tests. Previously, the Long March-3B Y110 rocket, which will carry out the Tianwen-2 launch mission, was transferred from the technical area to the launch area on May 14 and completed lifting and docking operations, said the CNSA. China Xichang Tianwen 2 Transport Launch Area - 18 May 2025

Overview

  • Tianwen-2 lifted off on May 28 aboard a Long March 3B rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, achieving transfer orbit insertion and smooth solar panel deployment.
  • The spacecraft is bound for asteroid 469219 Kamo’oalewa, a 40–100 meter quasi-satellite of Earth, with rendezvous scheduled for July 2026.
  • Mission planners will employ both “touch-and-go” and “anchor-and-attach” sampling techniques aimed at returning at least 100 grams of material to Earth by November 2027.
  • After delivering asteroid samples, Tianwen-2 will use an Earth gravity assist to set course for main-belt comet 311P/PANSTARRS, targeting arrival around 2035.
  • This mission advances China’s planetary exploration roadmap by building on lunar and Mars successes and demonstrating deep-space autonomy and navigation capabilities.