China is gearing up to launch the Tianwen-3 mission around 2028, aiming to bring samples back from Mars, according to Liu Jizhong, the chief designer of the mission.
Liu made the announcement on Thursday during the second International Deep Space Exploration Conference—also known as the Tiandu Forum—held in Huangshan City, east China’s Anhui Province.
Similar to China’s previous sampling missions, Tianwen-3 will involve collecting samples on the Martian surface, taking off from the red planet, and performing a rendezvous and docking in Mars orbit. The primary scientific goal of the mission is to search for signs of life on Mars, CGTN has learned.
Liu also highlighted international cooperation for the Tianwen-3 mission, which will involve international payloads, sample and data sharing, and joint planning for future missions. These collaborative initiatives are expected to enhance global synergy in the realm of deep space exploration.
Currently, China has approved four missions for planetary exploration, set to be completed in the next 10 to 15 years. The first Mars exploration mission, Tianwen-1, has achieved complete success. Tianwen-2, scheduled for launch around 2025, is designed to sample a near-Earth asteroid. Additionally, Tianwen-4, planned for launch around 2030, is aimed at exploring Jupiter.
Reference(s):
China to launch Mars-sampling mission in around 2028, says designer
cgtn.com
