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Tianwen-2 by Dalhousie on 15 Jun, 2022 01:07
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With three years to go it's perhaps time to start a thread about the Tianwen-2 asteroid sample return mission and its targets, Earth's ~400 m quasi-satellite Kamo'oalewa samplew return after two years), followed by a flyby of the active asteroid (one exhibiting quasi-cometary behaviour) 311P/PANSTARRS (after seven).
https://www.space.com/china-tianwen2-asteroid-sampling-mission-2025-launch
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#1 by Dalhousie on 15 Jun, 2022 01:08
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Kamo'oalewa has spectral properties unlike any other asteroid but closely resembles that of the Moon
https://www.space.com/near-earth-space-rock-made-of-moon-material -
#2 by Dalhousie on 15 Jun, 2022 01:10
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#3 by Yiosie on 15 Jun, 2022 01:27
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Cross-post (mission was originally named ZhengHe):
From the Space News article [https://spacenews.com/china-is-moving-ahead-with-lunar-south-pole-and-near-earth-asteroid-missions/]:
"Near-Earth asteroid sample return
ZhengHe, named for the 15th century naval explorer and admiral, will target near-Earth asteroid 2016 HO3 (469219 Kamoʻoalewa). It will collect 200-1,000 grams of samples from the asteroid and return to Earth within 2-3 years of launch, delivering the samples using a re-entry canister.
The main spacecraft will continue its mission after delivering the samples. It will use the visit to Earth for a gravity assist to set it on a course for the main belt comet 133P/Elst-Pizarro, arriving around seven years later. Earlier presentations include an additional gravity assist from Mars, whereas more recent profiles outline a flyby of an unnamed asteroid en route to 133P.
The mission will launch on a Long March 3B rocket from Xichang. The spacecraft will utilize electric propulsion, autonomous navigation and intelligent control functions. Asteroid 2016HO3 has a diameter in the range of 40-100 meters and an orbit that takes its 38 to 100 times farther from Earth than the moon. Explosives will be used to expose the subsurface for detection with water and volatiles as key targets."
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#4 by Dalhousie on 16 Jun, 2022 00:47
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Cross-post (mission was originally named ZhengHe):
From the Space News article [https://spacenews.com/china-is-moving-ahead-with-lunar-south-pole-and-near-earth-asteroid-missions/]:
"Near-Earth asteroid sample return
ZhengHe, named for the 15th century naval explorer and admiral, will target near-Earth asteroid 2016 HO3 (469219 Kamoʻoalewa). It will collect 200-1,000 grams of samples from the asteroid and return to Earth within 2-3 years of launch, delivering the samples using a re-entry canister.
The main spacecraft will continue its mission after delivering the samples. It will use the visit to Earth for a gravity assist to set it on a course for the main belt comet 133P/Elst-Pizarro, arriving around seven years later. Earlier presentations include an additional gravity assist from Mars, whereas more recent profiles outline a flyby of an unnamed asteroid en route to 133P.
The mission will launch on a Long March 3B rocket from Xichang. The spacecraft will utilize electric propulsion, autonomous navigation and intelligent control functions. Asteroid 2016HO3 has a diameter in the range of 40-100 meters and an orbit that takes its 38 to 100 times farther from Earth than the moon. Explosives will be used to expose the subsurface for detection with water and volatiles as key targets."
It's now been renamed, so a separate thread is appropriate. -
#5 by otter on 03 Mar, 2023 07:43
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China plans Tianwen-2 mission for asteroid sampling
https://english.news.cn/20230303/cd1effd2956c41e3a0be634cf779a00a/c.html
BEIJING, March 3 (Xinhua) -- China plans to launch a new interplanetary mission targeting a small near-Earth asteroid, said the country's space agency.
The scheduled Tianwen-2 mission will sample an asteroid called 2016 HO3, return to Earth, and then head out again to a main-belt comet 311P.
The China National Space Administration revealed the plan in a notice on Thursday, saying that the mission has obtained official approval, and scientists will hold an academic seminar about Tianwen-2 scientific exploration and its data processing technologies in April.
Tianwen-2 is the second mission in China's Tianwen series of planetary endeavors. Launched on July 23, 2020, Tianwen-1, comprised of an orbiter, lander, and rover, arrived on Mars.
Over the past two years, the Tianwen-1 has relayed a torrent of data to Earth, making contributions to many interplanetary exploration discoveries. It will continue to perform multiple tasks related to the red planet, according to the administration. -
#6 by Dalhousie on 05 Mar, 2023 21:29
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China plans Tianwen-2 mission for asteroid sampling
https://english.news.cn/20230303/cd1effd2956c41e3a0be634cf779a00a/c.html
BEIJING, March 3 (Xinhua) -- China plans to launch a new interplanetary mission targeting a small near-Earth asteroid, said the country's space agency.
The scheduled Tianwen-2 mission will sample an asteroid called 2016 HO3, return to Earth, and then head out again to a main-belt comet 311P.
So, what happened to the Zheng He designation? -
#7 by vjkane on 05 Mar, 2023 23:07
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They dropped it a year or so ago. I didn't hear an explanation.China plans Tianwen-2 mission for asteroid sampling
https://english.news.cn/20230303/cd1effd2956c41e3a0be634cf779a00a/c.html
BEIJING, March 3 (Xinhua) -- China plans to launch a new interplanetary mission targeting a small near-Earth asteroid, said the country's space agency.
The scheduled Tianwen-2 mission will sample an asteroid called 2016 HO3, return to Earth, and then head out again to a main-belt comet 311P.
So, what happened to the Zheng He designation? -
#8 by FutureSpaceTourist on 24 Apr, 2023 14:41
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https://twitter.com/cnspaceflight/status/1650509921950072834Quote
ZHANG Rongqiao, chief designer of Tianwen-1 says the prototyping of Tianwen-2 asteroid sample return mission has been completed and the work to build launch ready hardware will start in mid 2023, currently targeting May of 2025 for launch