China's Tianwen-2 spacecraft has beamed back a mesmerizing celestial selfie, showcasing Earth as a distant blue marble alongside its own structure and the nation's flag. Released by the China National Space Administration on Wednesday, the image marks a symbolic fusion of technological achievement and national pride during China's National Day celebrations.
A Mission of Firsts
Launched on May 29, Tianwen-2 represents China's inaugural asteroid sample-return mission. The probe is currently 43 million kilometers from Earth and en route to near-Earth asteroid 2016HO3, with plans to collect samples and study main-belt comet 311P. Engineers confirmed the spacecraft has completed 125 days of orbital operations, including critical equipment tests and environmental data collection.
Technical Triumph in Focus
The viral image was captured by a robotic arm-mounted camera, revealing the white return capsule and China's Five-Starred Red Flag against the cosmic backdrop. Space analysts highlight the photo as evidence of the mission's stable progress, with all systems reportedly functioning normally as the probe prepares for its asteroid rendezvous in 2025.
