# Tianwen-2

> Chinese asteroid and comet exploration mission

**Wikidata**: [Q65005927](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q65005927)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tianwen-2)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/tianwen-2

## Summary
Tianwen-2 is a Chinese asteroid and comet exploration mission launched on May 28, 2025, from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center. It is a sample-return mission designed to explore both an asteroid and a comet, following the successful Tianwen-1 Mars mission. The spacecraft has a mass of 2,100 kilograms and was launched aboard a Long March 3B rocket.

## Key Facts
- Launched on May 28, 2025, at 17:31 from Xichang Satellite Launch Center
- Mass: 2,100 kilograms
- Part of the Planetary Exploration of China program
- Operated by the China National Space Administration
- Manufacturer: China Academy of Space Technology
- Follows Tianwen-1 and will be followed by Tianwen-3
- Instance of both a space probe and a sample-return mission
- Also known as ZhengHe (鄭和)
- COSPAR ID: 2025-114A
- Scheduled for orbit insertion around target body on June 7, 2026

## FAQs
### Q: What is the purpose of Tianwen-2?
A: Tianwen-2 is a Chinese asteroid and comet exploration mission designed to collect samples from both an asteroid and a comet, advancing China's planetary exploration capabilities.

### Q: When and where was Tianwen-2 launched?
A: Tianwen-2 launched on May 28, 2025, at 17:31 from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in China.

### Q: What type of spacecraft is Tianwen-2?
A: Tianwen-2 is a space probe and sample-return mission, weighing 2,100 kilograms, designed to explore both asteroids and comets.

## Why It Matters
Tianwen-2 represents a significant advancement in China's deep space exploration capabilities, marking the country's first dedicated asteroid and comet sample-return mission. By targeting both an asteroid and a comet, the mission expands scientific understanding of the solar system's formation and evolution, as these bodies preserve primordial materials from the early solar system. The mission builds upon the success of Tianwen-1, demonstrating China's growing expertise in interplanetary exploration and sample-return technologies. As part of the broader Planetary Exploration of China program, Tianwen-2 positions China as a major player in international space exploration, contributing valuable data to the global scientific community while advancing national technological capabilities in spacecraft design, navigation, and sample collection.

## Notable For
- First Chinese mission to explore both an asteroid and a comet
- Sample-return capability from multiple celestial bodies
- Successor to the successful Tianwen-1 Mars mission
- Part of China's expanding Planetary Exploration of China program
- Named after ZhengHe, honoring China's historical maritime explorer

## Body
### Mission Overview
Tianwen-2 is a Chinese asteroid and comet exploration mission launched on May 28, 2025, from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center. The mission is operated by the China National Space Administration and manufactured by the China Academy of Space Technology.

### Technical Specifications
The spacecraft has a mass of 2,100 kilograms and was launched aboard a Long March 3B rocket (serial number Y110). It carries the COSPAR ID 2025-114A and NSSDCA ID 2025-114A.

### Mission Timeline
The launch occurred on May 28, 2025, at 17:31. The spacecraft is scheduled for orbit insertion around its target body on June 7, 2026, with mission operations beginning on April 24, 2027.

### Program Context
Tianwen-2 is part of the Planetary Exploration of China program, following the successful Tianwen-1 Mars mission and preceding Tianwen-3. The mission represents China's expanding capabilities in deep space exploration and sample-return technologies.

### Scientific Objectives
As a sample-return mission, Tianwen-2 aims to collect materials from both an asteroid and a comet, providing valuable data about the early solar system's composition and formation processes. The dual-target approach allows for comparative studies of different types of small bodies in our solar system.

### International Context
The mission demonstrates China's growing role in international space exploration, building upon the success of previous missions while advancing toward more complex interplanetary objectives. The sample-return capability positions China among the few nations capable of returning extraterrestrial materials to Earth for detailed analysis.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report