Tianwen-2 by CNSA: status and timeline

Tianwen-2

China's first asteroid and comet mission. Launched May 2025 to sample asteroid 469219 Kamoʻoalewa using dual techniques: touch-and-go and anchor-and-attach drilling. Sample return 2027; then rendezvous comet 311P.

DeployStage 4 of 5

Arrived asteroid 469219 Kamoʻoalewa (July 2026). Sample return November 2027; comet 311P rendezvous 2035.

Checked 10 Oct0 updates this week

Milestones

Next · Proximity operations and asteroid sampling

Launch on Long March 3B28 May 2025Complete.
Arrival at asteroid 469219 Kamoʻoalewa4 Jul 2026Complete.
Proximity operations and asteroid samplingTarget Jul 2026Current milestone.
Sample return capsule lands on EarthTarget 29 Nov 2027Not yet reached.
Departure from asteroidTarget 24 Apr 2027Not yet reached.
Comet 311P rendezvousTarget 24 Jan 2035Not yet reached.

Upcoming

Jul 2026Proximity operations and asteroid sampling (next)
24 Apr 2027Departure from asteroid
29 Nov 2027Sample return capsule lands on Earth
24 Jan 2035Comet 311P rendezvous

Current obstacles

Anchor stability on unknown terrainKamoʻoalewa's surface is largely unmapped. Drilling system must work on unknown slopes and loose material without adjustable anchors.
Microgravity samplingTiny asteroid gravity means no friction. Drills slip easily; grapples must work in near-zero g.

Physics limits

Asteroid gravity scales with mass50–100 meter asteroid has ~10^−5 g surface gravity. Vibrations change orbital velocity significantly.
Sample preservation in vacuumSamples exposed to vacuum at asteroid proximity may off-gas volatile compounds. The spacecraft must collect, seal and preserve samples within minutes of collection to prevent volatile loss before Earth return.

How it works

3 parts

Direct escape trajectory

Launched to Earth escape

Long March 3B placed probe on direct escape, skipping intermediate orbits. Coasts toward asteroid with minimal burns.

Dual sampling

Touch-and-go plus anchor-and-attach

Uses two methods: rapid touch-and-go (like Hayabusa 2) and novel anchor-and-attach with four robotic arms to latch and drill.

Sample return

Capsule separation and Earth recovery

Return capsule separates after collection, lands Earth in November 2027. Main probe continues to comet 311P rendezvous in 2035.

Spec sheet

Spec	Tianwen-2
Primary asteroid	469219 Kamoʻoalewa (2016 HO3)^R (reported)
Target sample mass	≥100 g^R (reported)
Secondary comet target	311P/PanSTARRS^R (reported)
Launch vehicle	Long March 3B^R (reported)

^R reported by the company

About CNSA

The team behind Tianwen-2

CNSA

China lunar exploration, Chang'e, Tianwen missions

The China National Space Administration (CNSA) is China's government civil space agency, established in 1993. It manages the country's lunar and planetary exploration programs, including the Chang'e lunar missions and Tianwen deep space exploration projects.

China's civil space agency founded in 1993. Operates the world's most active lunar program, deploying hardware constantly.
Chang'e missions map south pole ice; Tianwen explores asteroids and comets for sample return.
Manages lunar, planetary, orbital and space station programs in parallel.

cnsa.gov.cn (opens cnsa.gov.cn)Company profile →

Founded: 199333 yrs
Headquarters: China
Status: Government
Valuation: government
Works in: SpaceflightMoon & deep space
Coverage: 2 programs · 0 updateschecked 10 Oct
Suppliers: China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) (opens spacechina.com)

Spec

Tianwen-2

Primary asteroid

469219 Kamoʻoalewa (2016 HO3)^R (reported)

Target sample mass

≥100 g^R (reported)

Secondary comet target

311P/PanSTARRS^R (reported)

Launch vehicle

Long March 3B^R (reported)