May 28, 2025 5:31 pm

Tianwen-2

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Long March 3B/E

Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People’s Republic of China
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May 28, 2025 5:31 pm

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2026-07-11 07:16:33

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
Payload Tianwen-2
Rocket Long March 3B/E
Destination Asteroid
Recovery Overview
Landing Location See Mission Notes
Landing Type RTLS / Droneship
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.

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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
Payload Tianwen-2
Rocket Long March 3B/E
Destination Asteroid
Recovery Overview
Landing Location See Mission Notes
Landing Type RTLS / Droneship

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