Image: China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation
Long March 3B/E | Tianwen-2
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation · Long March 3B/E · Launch Complex 2 (LC-2), Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation's 525th launch · 24th this year · humanity's 6,967th orbital launch attempt
The launch vehicle successfully inserted its payload(s) into the target orbit(s).
Window: May 28, 17:22 – May 28, 17:44 UTC
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Tianwen-2
Tianwen-2 is a planned Chinese asteroid sample return and comet orbiter mission due for launch in May 2025. The spacecraft will visit the Near Earth asteroid 469219 Kamoʻoalewa (2016 HO3), collecting samples from its surface using both touch-and-go and anchor-and-drill approaches. It will return the samples back to Earth around 2.5 years after launch, with the main spacecraft proceeding to visit the main-belt comet 311P/PANSTARRS in the mid-2030s.
Planetary Science · Asteroid (Asteroid)
Booster
No booster details available.
Watch
No webcast announced yet.
Updates
Launch success.
Cosmic_Penguin · 5/28/2025 · source
Liftoff.
Cosmic_Penguin · 5/28/2025 · source
Added launch window.
Cosmic_Penguin · 5/22/2025 · source
NET May 28 UTC. (Launch pad is per https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/f8ojaDIp7LsRK8hPfpfLwg)
Cosmic_Penguin · 5/19/2025 · source
Added launch.
Cosmic_Penguin · 10/3/2023 · source
News
There were not one, but two asteroid encounters this weekend
The Torifune asteroid turns out to be shaped like a peanut.
Tianwen-2 arrives at asteroid Kamo’oalewa, first image revealed
HELSINKI — China’s Tianwen-2 sample return spacecraft has arrived at Kamoʻoalewa, revealing the near Earth asteroid to be a small, elongated rocky body. Tianwen-2 launched May 29, 2025, and traveled […]
Tianwen-2 makes series of burns on approach to asteroid, according to radio tracking
China’s Tianwen-2 spacecraft has carried out a series of small propulsive maneuvers following a main burn June 7, setting up an asteroid rendezvous in July.
China successfully debuts tallest rocket, LandSpace prepares for second landing attempt
China kicked off a busy month with three missions for a single internet constellation in…
Pad — Launch Complex 2 (LC-2)
Local pad time: May 29, 1:31 AM GMT+8
125 launches from this pad · 241 from Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
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