
China's Tianwen 2 Spacecraft Unveils First Stunning Image on Its Journey to a 'Quasi-Moon'
2025-06-08
Author: Ting
In an exciting development for space enthusiasts, China has shared the inaugural photo from its Tianwen 2 mission as the spacecraft embarks on a journey toward a fascinating near-Earth asteroid.
Launched on May 28 aboard a Long March 3B rocket, Tianwen 2 is on a daring quest to rendezvous with the enigmatic asteroid Kamo'oalewa—one of Earth’s seven known 'quasi-moons.' According to the China National Space Administration (CNSA), everything is on track for this ambitious mission.
As of June 6, CNSA reported that Tianwen 2 is thriving in the vastness of space, positioned over 3 million kilometers (about 1.86 million miles) from our planet. They also revealed a captivating image captured by the spacecraft’s engineering camera, showcasing one of its two circular solar panels, reminiscent of NASA’s Lucy mission to the Trojan asteroids.
This remarkable photo marks the first time the public has seen Tianwen 2, as all previous visuals were artistic impressions, and the launch itself was not streamed live.
Tianwen 2 is slated to reach Kamo'oalewa in July 2026, following several precision engine burns to adjust its trajectory. Once it arrives, the mission will conduct an extensive study of the asteroid, believed to be a fragment of the moon, flung into space by a colossal impact. The mission will also collect samples to bring back to Earth.
These samples are expected to return in late 2027, contained within a reentry capsule. Adding another layer of intrigue, after the sample delivery, Tianwen 2 will utilize Earth’s gravitational pull for a slingshot maneuver to set it on a course toward the main belt comet 311P/PANSTARRS, targeting a rendezvous around 2035.
The mission not only aims to gather precious data on asteroids and comets but also seeks to unravel significant questions regarding the solar system’s evolution and water's origins on Earth.
This isn’t China’s first foray into deep space; the Chang'e 2 lunar orbiter passed by the asteroid Toutatis in 2012 after mapping our moon, showcasing China's growing capabilities in space exploration. Additionally, the Chang'e 5 mission successfully retrieved samples from the near side of the moon in 2020, and Chang'e 6 is set to accomplish a historic sample return from the lunar far side in 2024.