China’s Tianwen-2 probe is set to explore two target asteroids, near-Earth asteroid 2016HO3 and main-belt comet 311P, in a mission aimed at shedding light on the formation and evolution of asteroids and the early solar system. Launched on May 29, the endeavor will collect samples from 2016HO3 and study the celestial anomaly, 311P.
Asteroid 2016HO3 orbits the Sun and appears to circle around Earth, making it a quasi-satellite of our planet. Dubbed “cosmic fossils,” asteroids preserve critical information about the solar system’s infancy, scientists say. The asteroid is believed to hold original information about the solar system at its birth, offering valuable insights into the material composition of the early solar system.
The Tianwen-2 mission will take a decade to complete, with multiple objectives including collecting samples from 2016HO3 and exploring 311P. The main-belt comet 311P is farther from Earth than Mars and has a relatively stable orbit, requiring lower energy consumption for spacecraft to reach it. This makes it an ideal target for subsequent exploration.
The second target, 311P, is a celestial anomaly that occasionally spews out materials and resembles a comet with tails. Its discovery challenges astronomers’ conventional understanding about comets, as the region is too close to the Sun for a comet to retain volatile materials like water ice.
After completing the sampling process, the spacecraft will return to Earth by 2027, carrying a return capsule containing the samples. The main probe will then continue its voyage to rendezvous with the more distant target, 311P, to carry out subsequent exploration tasks.
Source: https://www.bastillepost.com/global/article/4991663-tianwen-2-probe-to-explore-two-target-asteroids-of-high-scientific-research-value-scientist