China's Tianwen-2 mission is scheduled to launch in late May 2025 from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, marking China's first attempt to collect samples from an asteroid. The mission will employ a Long March 3B rocket.
The primary target is Kamo'oalewa, a near-Earth asteroid, also known as 2016 HO3, with a diameter of 40-100 meters. Tianwen-2 will use both "touch-and-go" and "anchor and attach" techniques to gather samples from the asteroid's surface. The mission aims to collect approximately 100 grams of material.
After completing its work at Kamo'oalewa, Tianwen-2 will proceed to study comet 311P/PANSTARRS in the main asteroid belt. The entire mission is expected to last about a decade. The Tianwen-2 mission follows the successful Tianwen-1 Mars mission and precedes the Tianwen-3 Mars sample return mission planned for 2028. This mission underscores China's growing capabilities in deep space exploration and its commitment to understanding the origins of the solar system.