China launches mission to retrieve asteroid samples

On [date not specified], China successfully launched the Tianwen-2 spacecraft as part of its ongoing space exploration program. The mission's primary objective is to travel to the near-Earth asteroid 469219 Kamoʻoalewa, collect material samples from its surface, and return them to Earth by 2027. This mission marks a significant step in China's ambitions in deep space exploration. Previously, only the United States and Japan have accomplished the retrieval of asteroid samples. The Tianwen-2 mission builds upon China's earlier achievements, such as the Chang'e lunar missions, and is expected to contribute valuable scientific data about the composition and history of asteroids. The mission is being closely watched by the international scientific community for its potential to advance understanding of the early solar system and the origins of planetary bodies.