China has announced a bold roadmap for deep space exploration, outlining plans for a series of missions targeting asteroids, Mars, and the Jupiter system. The announcement was made by Bian Zhigang, deputy head of the China National Space Administration (CNSA), highlighting the nation’s growing ambitions in space research and its potential for international collaboration.
A key part of the plan involves a trio of missions under the Tianwen banner. The Tianwen-2 mission, expected to launch around 2025, will focus on studying asteroids that hold vital clues to the formation of our solar system. This mission aims to advance our understanding of these small celestial bodies and their impact on Earth.
Following that, the Tianwen-3 mission is slated for launch in 2030. This mission will attempt to collect samples from Mars, furthering the achievements of China’s previous lunar explorations, such as the Chang’e-6 mission, which collected samples from the far side of the moon.
Simultaneously, the Tianwen-4 mission, also planned for 2030, will embark on an ambitious journey to explore the Jupiter system. This mission will see a Chinese spacecraft venturing further into the outer reaches of our solar system than ever before, marking a significant milestone in China’s space exploration efforts.
These missions build upon the success of the Tianwen-1 mission, which reached Mars in 2021, demonstrating China’s growing capabilities in interplanetary exploration.
Bian Zhigang emphasized that these missions will focus on scientific goals such as researching the origin and evolution of the solar system, studying the impact of small celestial bodies and solar activities on Earth, and searching for extraterrestrial life.
He also underscored China’s commitment to international collaboration in space exploration. China intends to work with international counterparts to jointly build the International Lunar Research Station and share lunar discoveries, fostering a spirit of cooperation and shared progress in the global space community.
The announcement signals China’s dedication to advancing human understanding of space and encourages potential partnerships with other nations and organizations interested in space exploration.
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China outlines plans for missions to asteroids, Mars and even Jupiter
cgtn.com
