China's secretive Tianwen-2 probe arrives at Earth's 'quasi-moon' ahead of historic landing attempt

Live updates

1. 2h ago

   Tianwen-2 Probe Reaches Quasi-Moon Kamo'oalewa Ahead of July Landing

   China's Tianwen-2 spacecraft has arrived at the quasi-moon Kamo'oalewa. The mission aims to collect and return samples to Earth to investigate the asteroid's lunar origin and solar system evolution. A landing attempt is scheduled for July 4.

   What's confirmed:

   • The Tianwen-2 mission has arrived at the quasi-moon Kamo'oalewa.
   • The spacecraft aims to return samples from the asteroid Kamo'oalewa.
   • Kamo'oalewa is also known as asteroid 2016 HO3.

   Still unconfirmed:

   • The probe plans a landing attempt on July 4.
   • The returned samples may reveal a lunar origin for the asteroid.
   confidence 90%
2. 6d ago

   Tianwen-2 Probe Reaches Quasi-Moon Kamo'oalewa

   China's Tianwen-2 spacecraft arrived at the asteroid Kamo'oalewa on June 7. The mission intends to collect soil and rock samples to return to Earth. This effort seeks to provide data on asteroid evolution and the early solar system.

   What's confirmed:

   • The Tianwen-2 probe arrived at Kamo'oalewa on June 7.
   • Tianwen-2 launched on May 28 via a Long March 3B rocket.
   • The probe will orbit the asteroid at various altitudes to find a landing site.

   Still unconfirmed:

   • The mission aims to collect soil and rock samples from Kamo'oalewa for return to Earth.
   • The mission seeks insights into the early solar system and asteroid evolution.
   confidence 80%
3. 8d ago

   Tianwen-2 Probe Reaches Quasi-Moon Kamo'oalewa

   China's Tianwen-2 spacecraft arrived at the space rock Kamo'oalewa on June 7. The probe will orbit the object at different altitudes to identify a landing site. It launched on May 28 using a Long March 3B rocket.

   What's confirmed:

   • Tianwen-2 launched on May 28 via a Long March 3B rocket.
   • The probe arrived at Kamo'oalewa on June 7.
   • Kamo'oalewa was approximately 39.1 million km from Earth upon the probe's arrival.
   • The CNSA released the first image of the probe showing its decagonal solar panels.

   Still unconfirmed:

   • Tianwen-2 will circle Kamo'oalewa to determine the best possible landing spot.
   confidence 100%
4. 9d ago

   Tianwen-2 Probe Transmits First Images En Route to Kamo'oalewa

   China's Tianwen-2 spacecraft is operating normally as it approaches the quasi-moon Kamo'oalewa. The probe is currently more than 3 million kilometers from Earth. It has transmitted its first self-portrait during the journey.

   What's confirmed:

   • The Tianwen-2 probe is traveling to the quasi-moon Kamo'oalewa.
   • The spacecraft has sent a self-portrait.
   • The probe is more than 3 million kilometers from Earth.
   • The mission includes sampling a near-Earth asteroid and surveying a main belt comet.
   • The spacecraft is operating normally.
   confidence 100%
5. 10d ago

   China's Tianwen-2 Probe Arrives at Quasi-Moon Kamo'oalewa

   The Tianwen-2 spacecraft has arrived at the near-Earth asteroid Kamo'oalewa to collect samples. The probe performed a series of engine burns to facilitate the rendezvous. China intends to return these samples to Earth in 2027.

   What's confirmed:

   • Tianwen-2 launched on May 29, 2025, from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center via a Long March 3B rocket.
   • The mission aims to collect samples from the near-Earth asteroid 2016HO3, also known as Kamo'oalewa.
   • The spacecraft performed a main burn on June 7 followed by small propulsive maneuvers to set up the rendezvous.
   • The probe is scheduled to return samples to Earth in 2027.
   • Following the asteroid mission, Tianwen-2 plans to rendezvous with the main-belt comet 311P/PanSTARRS in January 2035.

   Still unconfirmed:

   • A new study suggests Kamo'oalewa may be ordinary space rock rather than a chunk of the Moon.
   • The Tianwen-2 probe is described as secretive.
   confidence 95%