China National Space Administration (CNSA) has shared the first image from its Tianwen-2 probe, which is en route to Kamo‘oalewa, a near-Earth asteroid. The image shows one of the probe’s wings with solar panels deployed, taken more than 3 million kilometers from Earth.
Launched on May 29, Tianwen-2’s mission is to land on the surface of Kamo‘oalewa, collect samples, and return to Earth. Scheduled for July 2026, the spacecraft will study the asteroid from a safe distance before landing maneuvers, which are complicated by its low gravity.
Once samples are collected, Tianwen-2 will travel back to Earth and send them down in a capsule before attempting to use Earth’s gravity as a slingshot to head toward an unusual-looking asteroid. The mission is expected to last until 2035.
Kamo‘oalewa is one of seven known quasi-moons orbiting Earth, but not gravitationally bound. Discovered in 2016, this asteroid has maintained its current orbit for over 100 years and will likely do so for another 300 years. Scientists hope Tianwen-2 can solve the mystery of Kamo‘oalewa’s origin, which could provide insights into the solar system’s formation.
The image and upcoming mission mark a significant step in understanding near-Earth asteroids like Kamo‘oalewa, potentially shedding light on their composition and the solar system’s history.
Source: https://www.wired.com/story/chinese-spacecraft-earths-quasi-moons-china-tianwen-2