TAIPEI, Taiwan -- In a significant advancement for China's space exploration, the nation successfully launched the Tianwen-2 probe, designed to return samples from an asteroid located near Mars. This ambitious mission, announced by the China National Space Administration (CNSA), is expected to yield groundbreaking discoveries that will expand humanity's understanding of the cosmos.
The Tianwen-2 probe was launched early Thursday from southern China aboard the reliable Long March 3-B rocket. This mission aims to collect samples from the asteroid 2016HO3 and explore the main-belt comet 311P, which is situated further from Earth than Mars. According to CNSA head Shan Zhongde, the Tianwen-2 mission is a "significant step in China’s new journey of interplanetary exploration."
Over its decade-long mission, the Tianwen-2 is expected to return samples from 2016HO3 within approximately two years. The chosen asteroids have been selected for their relatively stable orbits, and scientists hope they will provide vital clues about the formation of Earth and the origins of water.
This new mission follows China's successful return of rock samples from the far side of the Moon, marking a historic milestone in space exploration. While China has expressed a willingness to engage in international cooperation, any collaboration with the United States is contingent upon the removal of an American law that currently prohibits direct bilateral cooperation with NASA.
While the near side of the Moon is visible from Earth, the far side faces outer space and is characterized by rugged mountains and impact craters, making it much more challenging to reach. China's successful missions to the Moon and Mars highlight its growing capabilities in space exploration.
In addition to the Tianwen-2 mission, China operates the three-person crewed Tiangong, or "Heavenly Palace," space station. This initiative positions China as a major player in the new era of space exploration and allows for permanent stations to conduct experiments in space. Notably, the Tiangong space station was entirely built by China after the country was excluded from the International Space Station due to U.S. national security concerns.
China's space program, controlled by the People’s Liberation Army, has experienced rapid growth over the past two decades. Since becoming the third country to independently send a man into space, the program has successfully landed unmanned explorers on Mars and the far side of the Moon. Looking ahead, China aims to place a person on the Moon before 2030, with the future Tianwen-4 Jupiter mission set to explore Jupiter, although specific details have yet to be released.
