Tianwen-2
Context: China launched early Thursday the Tianwen-2 spacecraft to collect samples from near-Earth asteroid 2016HO3 and explore main-belt comet 311P.
Important Pointers:
Launch Vehicle: Long March 3B rocket
Launch Site: Xichang Satellite Launch Centre, Sichuan, China
Space Agency: China National Space Administration (CNSA)
Objective: To survey and collect samples from asteroid Kamo’oalewa, then study comet 311P/PANSTARRS in the asteroid belt
Target - Kamo‘oalewa: A Near-Earth asteroid discovered in 2016; follows a quasi-satellite orbit influenced by Earth's gravity
Sampling Method: “Touch-and-go” technique — spacecraft briefly contacts the surface to collect debris using robotic tools
Backup Sampling: “Anchor-and-attach” method — four robotic arms drill and collect subsurface material
Tianwen Series Name Origin: Named after "Tianwen" or “Heavenly Questions”, a classical Chinese poem by Qu Yuan
Tianwen-1: Launched in 2020, it was China’s first Mars mission; delivered orbiter, lander, and rover — rover ceased operation in 2022
Tianwen-3 (Upcoming): Planned for 2028, aims to return samples from Mars — making China one of the few with interplanetary sample missions