China has launched an ambitious mission to study two intriguing objects in our solar system. The Tianwen-2 mission aims to collect the country’s first samples from an asteroid called Kamoʻoalewa, which may be a chunk chipped off the moon. This 150-190 feet diameter asteroid is considered the smallest ever visited, and studying it could provide insights into its origin and potential connection to the lunar surface.
The mission will also investigate the behavior of the main belt comet 311P/Pan-STARRS, an active asteroid that orbits between Mars and Jupiter and produces dusty tails. The data gathered by Tianwen-2 will enhance our understanding of objects in the inner solar system, including Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars.
According to Dr. Teddy Kareta, a planetary scientist, studying these objects up close could revolutionize our understanding of them. “It’s like opening presents on your birthday,” he said. “Whatever’s underneath the wrapping paper, it’s always exciting to see something for the first time and try to do your best to understand it.”
The mission is not without risks, however. Orbiting and landing on such a small body is complicated due to its rapid rotation and lack of gravity. The spacecraft will need to be extremely precise in its maneuvers to collect samples safely.
The Tianwen-2 mission marks an exciting chapter in China’s space exploration efforts and has the potential to shed light on several scientific mysteries. With this historic mission, astronomers can gain a deeper understanding of our solar system and uncover new secrets about its most fascinating objects.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/05/28/science/china-tianwen-2-mission-launch