Tianwen-2 is a planned Chinese asteroid sample return and comet orbiter mission due for launch in May 2025. The spacecraft will visit the Near Earth asteroid 469219 Kamoʻoalewa (2016 HO3), collecting samples from its surface using both touch-and-go and anchor-and-drill approaches. It will return the samples back to Earth around 2.5 years after launch, with the main spacecraft proceeding to visit the main-belt comet 311P/PANSTARRS in the mid-2030s.
Launch Overview
Window Open
17:22 UTC
Window Close
17:44 UTC
Lift Off
May 28, 2025 · 17:31 UTC
Launch Facility
Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
Launch Pad
Launch Complex 2 (LC-2)
Target Orbit
Asteroid
Payload Overview
Customer
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation
Tianwen-2 is a planned Chinese asteroid sample return and comet orbiter mission due for launch in May 2025. The spacecraft will visit the Near Earth asteroid 469219 Kamoʻoalewa (2016 HO3), collecting samples from its surface using both touch-and-go and anchor-and-drill approaches. It will return the samples back to Earth around 2.5 years after launch, with the main spacecraft proceeding to visit the main-belt comet 311P/PANSTARRS in the mid-2030s.
Height
LEO Payload
Total Launches
Status
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation
Launch Complex 2 (LC-2)
Launch Overview
Window Open
17:22 UTC
Window Close
17:44 UTC
Lift Off
May 28, 2025 · 17:31 UTC
Launch Facility
Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
Launch Pad
Launch Complex 2 (LC-2)
Target Orbit
Asteroid
Payload Overview
Customer
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation