China is gearing up to launch the Tianwen-2 mission this year, with ambitious goals to study two distinct celestial bodies: the near-Earth asteroid 2016HO3 and the main-belt comet 311P. This dual-target mission aims to unravel the mysteries of what astronomers describe as a \"living fossil\" of the solar system and a \"rebel\" of the main asteroid belt.
The Tianwen-2 mission is designed to achieve multiple objectives in a single launch. It plans to collect samples from asteroid 2016HO3, which is notable for being the first quasi-satellite of Earth ever discovered. Despite not being a natural moon, this asteroid, measuring between 40 to 100 meters in diameter, shares orbital parameters with Earth, causing it to constantly \"wander\" near our planet.
Additionally, the mission will explore main-belt comet 311P, a unique object within the asteroid belt. An astronomer from the National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (NAOC) explained that these two targets offer intriguing insights into the composition and behavior of different types of celestial bodies, potentially shedding light on the early conditions of our solar system.
Discovered in 2016 by the Pan-STARRS telescope in Hawaii, asteroid 2016HO3 presents a unique opportunity for scientists to study a body that closely mirrors Earth's orbit. Meanwhile, main-belt comet 311P challenges our understanding of cometary activity within the asteroid belt, making it a compelling subject for exploration.
Through the Tianwen-2 mission, China aims to contribute valuable data to the global scientific community, enhancing our understanding of these enigmatic objects and their roles in the broader context of space exploration.
