Early on Thursday, the Tianwen-2 probe roared into the skies atop a Long March-3B rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in the Chinese mainland’s Sichuan Province, kickstarting a decade-long odyssey to the solar system’s relics.
A Two-Pronged Scientific Quest
Tianwen-2’s crewless journey packs ambitious goals:
- Sampling asteroid 2016HO3, Earth’s constant companion known as a quasi-satellite.
- Venturing beyond Mars to study main-belt comet 311P.
From Launchpad to Deep Space
At 1:31 a.m. Beijing Time, the Long March-3B lifted off. Just 18 minutes later, Tianwen-2 slipped into an Earth-to-asteroid transfer orbit. The probe’s solar panels unfolded flawlessly, and the China National Space Administration declared the mission a success.
“This mission marks a significant step in our interplanetary exploration,” said Shan Zhongde, head of the China National Space Administration.
Why It Matters
Known as “cosmic fossils,” asteroids like 2016HO3 hold clues to the solar system’s infancy. By collecting samples and studying cometary materials, Tianwen-2 could rewrite parts of our cosmic origin story.
What’s Next?
Over the next decade, the probe will navigate millions of kilometers, analyse samples on board, and send data back to Earth—offering fresh insights for scientists, entrepreneurs in space tech, and explorers dreaming of the final frontier.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
