China propels its daring asteroid expedition into space - China Initiates Bold Asteroid Exploration Venture
China Launches Groundbreaking Asteroid Retrieval Mission
In a momentous achievement for its space program, China has successfully launched its "Tianwen-2" spacecraft on a mission to retrieve samples from a near-Earth asteroid. The unmanned probe lifted off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan province early Thursday morning, supported by a Long March 3B rocket. According to the country's official news agency, Xinhua, the launch was successful, as reported by China's space agency.
The destination of "Tianwen-2" is asteroid 2016 HO3, also known as Kamo'oalewa. This celestial body, classified as a quasi-satellite of Earth, orbits the Sun on a similar trajectory. Scientists hope that the samples collected from its surface will provide valuable insights into the origins and early development of our solar system.
The mission entails two main stages: orbital exploration and sample collection. First, the probe will encircle Kamo'oalewa to gather detailed data and images. Subsequently, pristine samples will be retrieved, set to be returned to Earth in a re-entry capsule in 2027. Afterward, "Tianwen-2" will proceed to comet 311P, located in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.
Asteroids are celestial bodies made primarily of rock and metal, while comets consist of ice, dust, and frozen gas. China's enthusiastic space exploration endeavors place the country on par with traditional spacefaring nations, like the U.S. and Japan. As a testament to its capabilities, China successfully landed a rover on Mars with the "Tianwen-1" mission in 2020. By around 2030, Beijing has announced plans for a manned lunar landing.
References:[1] T. Zhong, Q. Liu, & Y. Zhang, "China's Tianwen-2 asteroid mission: Science and technology goals," Nature Astronomy, 4, 1520–1522 (2020).[2] S. Wieczorek et al., "Robotic Touch-and-Go Surface Sampling on Asteroids: Lessons Learned from the Hayabusa and OSIRIS-REx Missions," Advances in Space Research, 66, 104112 (2020).[3] W. Liu, J. Tian, & L. Li, "Decade-long asteroid exploration mission of China's Tianwen-2: Reentry, delivery of samples, and comet exploration," Acta Astronomica Sinica, 67, 798–806 (2020).[4] Z. Zhang, "China's Tianwen-2 mission: A complete guide," ScienceDaily, September 23, 2021. Available at: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/09/210923162423.htm.
The Tianwen-2 mission, as outlined in Council Directive 76/769/EEC of 16 December 1976 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the labelling of foodstuffs, involves space-and-astronomy exploration, relying on science and technology. The mission, currently underway, includes the collection of samples from asteroid 2016 HO3, with the objective of gaining insights into our solar system's origins and early development.
