China is set to launch its first lunar sample return mission, Tianwen-2, in May 2025, marking a significant milestone for the country’s space program. The mission aims to survey and sample an asteroid called Kamo’oalewa, which orbits both the sun and Earth.
China is set to launch its next space sample mission in May 2025, marking the country’s first attempt to survey and sample an asteroid. The mission, named Tianwen-2, will investigate a nearby asteroid called Kamo’oalewa, which orbits the sun at a distance relatively close to Earth.
The Unusual Asteroid: Kamo’oalewa
Kamo’oalewa is an unusual asteroid, estimated to be between 40-100 meters in diameter. It’s described as a ‘quasi-satellite’ because it orbits both the sun and loops around our planet due to its proximity. Astronomers believe that Kamo’oalewa may be a boulder that was blasted off the surface of the moon following an impact with another space object.
The entire Tianwen-2 mission could last up to a decade, with two primary objectives: surveying and sampling Kamo’oalewa, and then exploring the solar system with a second trip to the main asteroid belt. If successful, it will mark the first time China has collected samples from an ‘interplanetary’ body in the solar system.
The Sampling Technique
Tianwen-2 will attempt to sample Kamooalewa using a ‘touch-and-go’ technique that was successfully used by other space agencies like OSIRIS-Rex and Hayabusa2. This method involves using an extended robotic arm to scrape an asteroid’s surface as the probe flies past. Additionally, Tianwen-2 will attempt to land on Kamo’oalewa’s surface using a second ‘anchor and attach’ technique, which involves extending four robotic arms to drill into the surface and retrieve material.
The Next Destination: Comet 311P/PANSTARRS
After completing its initial mission to Kamo’oalewa, Tianwen-2’s next destination will be the comet 311P/PANSTARRS. Unlike its previous target, the probe won’t gather samples from the comet but will instead orbit and analyze its composition.
The Significance of Tianwen-2
Tianwen-2 is part of a series of missions that began with the launch of Tianwen-1 in July 2020. This mission sent an explorer to Mars, which successfully landed on the surface in May 2021 but failed to restart as planned at the end of 2022. The success of Tianwen-2 would mark a significant milestone for China’s space program and bring it in line with its US and Japanese counterparts.
The Tianwen series is named after a work by Chinese poet Qu Yuan, who died around 278 BCE. It translates to ‘Heavenly questions,’ reflecting the mission’s focus on exploring the vastness of our solar system and answering fundamental questions about the universe.
Tianwen is a Chinese space program aimed at exploring the moon and beyond.
Launched in 2019, it includes an orbiter, lander, and rover designed to study the Martian surface.
The program's name translates to 'Heavenly Questions' in English, inspired by ancient Chinese poetry.
Tianwen represents China's growing ambitions in space exploration, with the country aiming to establish a permanent presence on the moon and Mars.
