China Plans Tianwen-2 Asteroid Sample Mission Launch

China is preparing to launch the Tianwen-2 mission, targeting the near-Earth asteroid 469219 Kamoʻoalewa to collect samples that may provide insights into the origins of Earth, the moon, and the early solar system. Launching from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center with a Long March 3B Y110 rocket, Tianwen-2 will first rendezvous with Kamoʻoalewa, aiming to land and collect surface material before returning samples to Earth in 2027. After sample return, the spacecraft will use Earth's gravity to slingshot toward the main-belt comet 311P/PanSTARRS, where it will study comet dust and activity to better understand the distribution of volatile compounds and the origins of terrestrial oceans. This mission marks China's entry into deep-space sample-return exploration, joining the ranks of Japan and the United States, and follows its previous successes with lunar and Mars missions. Tianwen-2's multifaceted objectives, including testing sampling techniques and conducting a dual-target itinerary, demonstrate significant engineering complexity and scientific ambition. The mission is expected to deepen understanding of solar system evolution and planetary formation while enhancing China's space exploration capabilities.