China’s space program has announced its latest mission, Tianwen-2, which aims to collect samples from a near-Earth asteroid and explore a main-belt comet. The spacecraft is currently undergoing launch preparations at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan province.
Tianwen-2 will target the 40-100 meter-diameter asteroid Kamoʻoalewa, which is thought to be a fragment of the moon blasted into space by an impact event. The mission will use two sampling techniques: a touch-and-go approach and an anchor-and-attach system featuring drills on landing legs.
The spacecraft’s return module will then rendezvous with the comet 311P/PANSTARRS, which orbits between 1.94 and 2.44 astronomical units from the Sun. The mission aims to provide insight into the composition and evolution of near-Earth objects and understand the distribution of water and organic molecules.
Tianwen-2 carries a suite of scientific instruments, including multispectral spectrometers, high-resolution cameras, and radar sounders. The spacecraft will conduct remote sensing of the comet to characterize its orbit, shape, and rotation, as well as examine its surface composition and volatile elements.
This mission is part of China’s expanding deep space ambitions, following previous successes with the Tianwen-1 Mars orbiter and landing mission, and the Zhurong rover. The Tianwen series is expected to unlock new discoveries and technological innovations in asteroid sample return missions.
Source: https://spacenews.com/china-readies-tianwen-2-asteroid-sample-return-spacecraft-for-launch