China is inviting international partners to collaborate with its pioneering Mars sample return mission, Tianwen-3, set to launch in late 2028. The China National Space Administration (CNSA) has published an announcement of opportunities for global participation.
Tianwen-3 aims to collect samples from Mars and deliver them to Earth, marking a significant step forward in the search for life on the Red Planet. The mission will investigate potential biosignatures, study Martian geology, and contribute to understanding planetary habitability.
The CNSA is offering up to 15 kilograms of mass available for international collaboration projects on the mission’s Earth return orbiter and Mars orbiter. Proposals must align with the mission’s scientific objectives or provide complementary value. Expressions of interest are due by June 30, 2025, with shortlisted teams invited to submit full proposals.
The Tianwen-3 mission will consist of two launches from Earth, carrying a lander and ascent vehicle, Mars orbiter, and Earth return orbiter. The mission will focus on three preselected landing zones: Amazonis Planitia, Utopia Planitia, and Chryse Planitia.
China’s Mars sample return mission comes as NASA faces delays and budget uncertainties in its own program. If successful, Tianwen-3 could establish China as a leader in planetary exploration and provide the key to answering one of the most profound scientific questions: whether life ever existed on Mars.
Source: https://spacenews.com/china-opens-2028-mars-sample-return-mission-to-international-cooperation