China has launched a primary image of its Tianwen 2 mission because the spacecraft heads for a near-Earth asteroid.
Tianwen 2 launched on a Lengthy March 3B rocket on Might 28 and is tasked with rendezvousing with and sampling the mysterious asteroid Kamo’oalewa, which is one Earth’s seven identified “quasi moons.” And the mission is continuing effectively, in accordance with a primary official replace.
The China Nationwide Area Administration (CNSA) revealed in a June 6 assertion that the spacecraft is working effectively and is greater than 3 million kilometers (1.86 million miles) away from Earth.
CNSA additionally revealed a picture taken by an engineering digicam aboard the spacecraft displaying certainly one of Tianwen 2’s two round photo voltaic panels, that are comparable in look to these on NASA’s Lucy mission to go to the Trojan asteroids close to Jupiter.
Remarkably, the picture is the very first glimpse of Tianwen 2 launched to the general public. Till now, solely inventive renderings had been launched, and the mission’s launch was not broadcast reside.
Tianwen 2 is anticipated to achieve Kamo’oalewa in July 2026, following engine burns to fine-tune its orbit. It can spend a number of months orbiting and finding out the asteroid — which scientists assume may very well be a chunk of the moon that was blasted out by an enormous impression — earlier than gathering samples and heading for Earth.
After delivering the samples in a reentry capsule in late 2027, Tianwen 2 will use Earth’s gravity for a slingshot maneuver to ship it on a course to rendezvous with essential belt comet 311P/PANSTARRS round 2035.
The mission, by visiting an asteroid and comet, goals to supply knowledge on the character and composition of the planetary our bodies, in addition to insights into large questions such because the evolution of the photo voltaic system and the origin of water on Earth.
Tianwen 2 is not going to be China’s first deep area encounter with an asteroid. The nation’s Chang’e 2 lunar orbiter made a flyby of the asteroid Toutatis in 2012 as a part of an prolonged mission after mapping the moon.
China additionally has sample-return expertise with its Chang’e 5 mission, which snagged materials from the moon’s close to aspect in 2020, and Chang’e 6, which collected the first-ever samples from the lunar far aspect in 2024.
Tianwen 2 is China’s second planetary exploration mission. It follows Tianwen 1, launched in 2020, which despatched an orbiter and a rover to Mars.
