https://en.people.cn/n3/2025/1001/c90000-20373561.html

The mission aims to achieve multiple goals over a decade-long expedition: collecting samples from near-Earth asteroid 2016HO3 and exploring the main-belt comet 311P, which is farther from Earth than Mars.

According to the China National Space Administration CNSA, the Tianwen-2 probe is currently approximately 43 million kilometers from Earth and 45 million kilometers from the asteroid 2016HO3.

The probe has successfully completed a series of in-orbit tests, including the deployment of sampling devices and self-checks of electronic devices. All systems are reported to be functioning normally, while onboard instruments have begun collecting valuable scientific data on the space environment, according to the CNSA.

China launched its asteroid sample-return mission on May 29.

The image was acquired by a monitoring camera mounted on the probe’s robotic arm. It showsthe white return capsule against the backdrop of a distant, blue Earth.