In a cosmic leap for science, China launched its Tianwen-2 mission early Thursday, kicking off a 10-year journey to unlock secrets of our solar system’s origins. The probe’s targets? A mysterious near-Earth asteroid and a distant comet—both dubbed ‘cosmic fossils’ by scientists. 🌠
Mission Breakdown: What’s Ahead?
The Long March-3B rocket roared to life at 1:31 a.m. Beijing Time from Xichang Satellite Launch Center, successfully deploying the Tianwen-2 probe into its transfer orbit. By 2025, it aims to:
Collect samples from asteroid 2016HO3 (Earth’s ‘quasi-satellite’)
Explore comet 311P beyond Mars’ orbit
‘This mission is a giant step in interplanetary exploration,’ said CNSA head Shan Zhongde, highlighting its potential to reshape our understanding of space evolution. 🔭
Why Asteroids Matter
Think of asteroids as time capsules—they’ve preserved chemical clues from 4.6 billion years ago! Studying 2016HO3’s samples could reveal how Earth’s water and organic materials formed. 💧✨
With solar panels deployed and systems go, Tianwen-2 now begins its epic deep-space trek. Will it rewrite astronomy textbooks? The countdown starts now! ⏳
