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According to Xinhua, China’s Tianwen-2 probe has successfully reached its target asteroid, marking the start of the scientific exploration phase. Tianwen — meaning “Questions to Heaven” — is the designation for China’s program of planetary missions.
Tianwen-2 is designed as an asteroid sample-return mission. The spacecraft is intended to collect material from the small body and bring it back to Earth, with the aim of shedding light on the early history of the solar system. Further details on the scientific instruments involved and the specific sampling procedures were not disclosed at the time of the report.
The mission represents a significant step forward for China’s deep-space exploration program. Following the success of Tianwen-1 — which delivered the Zhurong (祝融号) rover to Mars in 2021 — Tianwen-2 is intended to extend the China National Space Administration’s (CNSA) exploration capabilities to small solar-system bodies. Xinhua indicated that additional details about the mission would be released in due course.