China's space is now serious: Asteroid mission is started!

China's space is now serious: Asteroid mission is started!

Xichang, China - On May 29, 2025, China successfully launched his first mission to return rock samples. The unmanned "Tiessen-2" spacecraft picked up on Thursday morning (local time) from the Xicher Center in the province of Sichuan. The start took place with a long march 3b. With this mission, China is starting the Asteroid 2016 HO3, also known as Kamo’oalewa, which is about 40 million kilometers from Earth.

Kamo’oalewa is considered a quasi satellite of the earth because it has a similar orbit around the sun as our planet. The aim of the "Tiessen-2" mission is to gain new knowledge about the origin and early development of the solar system. The probe will circle around Kamo’oalewa for several months to collect data and pictures before samples are taken. These samples are to be brought to earth with a return capsule, and that is planned for 2027.

technological innovations and mission elements

"Tiipen-2" will be equipped with various instruments, including multi-spectral and infrared spectrometers, high-resolution cameras, a radar scanner and a magnetometer. These technologies should help deliver important data about asteroids and comets.

The sampling is carried out by various methods, including hover sampling, touch-and-go (day) and anchored sampling. The mission represents new challenges because the Asteroid Kamo’oalewa rotates and the navigation is therefore more complex.

• Arrival on the Asteroid Kamo’oalewa: July 4, 2026
• Departure: April 24, 2027
• landing of the return capsule: November 29, 2027
• Arrival on comet 311p: January 24, 2035

After use at Kamo’oalewa, "Tiessen-2" plans to visit the comet 311p/Panstarrs in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. 311p is referred to as a "living fossil" and offers valuable insights into the early material composition of the solar system.

an important step in the Chinese space program

China's space program has made rapid progress in recent years. The country operates a constantly occupied space station called "Tiangong" and is planning a manned lunar landing for around 2030. 2020 the country was already successful with the "Tiessen-1" mission when a rover was sold on Mars. Well, with "Tiipen-2", China strives to close a gap, since so far only the United States and Japan have been able to bring material from asteroids to earth.

The China National Space Administration (CNSA) also planned the next mission, Tiwen-4, for around 2030, which will include a Jupiter orbiter and a radio-sotopic spatial vehicle for an Uranus-Flyby. This shows the continuous ambition of the country in the field of deep space research.

With the "Tiessen-2" mission, China confirms his commitment to researching the universe and the scientific breakthroughs that are associated with it. This mission is not only a technical progress, but also an expansion of knowledge through our solar system.

Further information about the Chinese space program can be found at wikipedia , while detailed technical specifications and plans on Friends of nasa . For comprehensive reporting, visit the Süddeutsche Zeitung .