Space probes·CNSA

Tianwen-2

ActiveLaunched in 2025·Asteroid Kamoʻoalewa (Earth quasi-satellite)

Chinese asteroid sample-return mission: sampling Kamoʻoalewa in 2026, then an extended flyby of the main-belt comet 311P/PanSTARRS from 2035.

Main objectives

Did you know?

Tianwen-2 tests three sampling methods: touch-and-go, hover sampling and anchor-and-attach drilling — a first for a Chinese spacecraft.

Timeline

May 28, 2025

Launch

Long March 3B from Xichang.

Jul 04, 2026

Kamoʻoalewa rendezvous

Arrival at the Earth quasi-satellite.

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Wide/narrow-angle multispectral cameras

Color and multispectral imaging for geological mapping of the asteroid and comet (probe)

Visible/near-IR imaging spectrometer

Surface mineral composition by imaging spectroscopy (probe)

Thermal emission spectrometer

Thermal properties and surface texture (probe)

Radar sounder

Internal structure and subsurface of the asteroid (probe)

Magnetometer

Detection of residual magnetic fields (probe)

Dust and gas analyzer

Comet activity and solar wind interactions (probe)

Charged/neutral particle detector

Plasma and radiation interactions (probe)

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