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Tianwen-2: China’s Bold Leap into Asteroid Exploration

China continues to push the frontiers of space exploration with the launch of its Tianwen-2 probe, aimed at retrieving samples from asteroid 2016HO3. The mission highlights China’s growing ambitions in deep space exploration, following the success of Tianwen-1, and setting the stage for future missions to Mars and Jupiter.


Mission Overview: Tianwen-2

  • Launched by: Long March 3B rocket

  • Objective:

    • Land on asteroid 2016HO3, collect samples, and return them to Earth

    • Later visit main-belt comet 311P, located farther from Earth than Mars

  • Mission Duration: Till end of 2027


Related Missions in the Tianwen Series

  • Tianwen-1 (2021): Orbiter, lander, and rover Zhurong successfully operated on Mars

  • Tianwen-3 (~2028): Will aim to return samples from Mars

  • Tianwen-4 (~2030): Proposed mission to explore Jupiter and beyond


Strategic Importance

  • Scientific Advancement: Will provide insights into the origins of the solar system and planetary formation

  • Global Standing: Marks China’s entry into the elite club of asteroid sample-return missions (like Japan’s Hayabusa2)

  • Technological Innovation: Showcases China's growing capabilities in robotic spaceflight and multi-body mission planning


UPSC Relevance

  • GS Paper 3: Achievements of Indians in science & tech, space technology

  • GS Paper 2: International collaboration in space exploration

  • Essay & Ethics: Science for humanity, future of space diplomacy


📘 Prelims Practice Question:

Q. With reference to China’s Tianwen space missions, consider the following statements:

  1. Tianwen-2 is aimed at collecting samples from Mars.

  2. Tianwen-3 is scheduled to return samples from an asteroid.

  3. Tianwen-4 plans to explore the outer planets, starting with Jupiter.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A. 1 and 2 only

B. 2 and 3 only

C. 3 only

D. 1, 2 and 3


✅ Answer: C. 3 only

Explanation:

  • Statement 1 is incorrect: Tianwen-2 targets asteroid 2016HO3, not Mars.

  • Statement 2 is incorrect: Tianwen-3 will collect samples from Mars, not an asteroid.

  • Statement 3 is correct: Tianwen-4 is planned to explore Jupiter and beyond.


✍️ Mains Practice Question (GS Paper 3):

Discuss the significance of asteroid sample-return missions like Tianwen-2 in understanding the solar system’s origin. What are the technological and geopolitical implications of such missions?


 
 
 

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