Latest news with #LongMarch-3B
NDTV
3 days ago
- Science
- NDTV
China Launches First Mission To Retrieve Asteroid Samples For Research
China on Thursday launched a space probe on the country's first mission to retrieve samples from an asteroid and bring them home for research, the Xinhua state news agency reported. Beijing has ploughed billions of dollars into its space programme in recent years in an effort to achieve what President Xi Jinping describes as the country's "space dream". It has built a space station orbiting the Earth and plans to run a crewed mission to the Moon this decade ahead of establishing a permanent base there. A Long March-3B rocket carrying the Tianwen-2 probe blasted off from the Xichang launch site in southwestern Sichuan province "in the early hours of Thursday," Xinhua said. "Shan Zhongde, head of the China National Space Administration, stated that the Tianwen-2 mission represents a significant step in China's new journey of interplanetary exploration," the news agency reported. Tianwen-2 is tasked with collecting samples from the near-Earth asteroid 2016HO3, and exploring the comet 311P, according to the country's space agency. Discovered by scientists in Hawaii in 2016, the asteroid is roughly 40 to 100 metres (130-330 feet) in diameter and orbits relatively close to Earth. It is a "living fossil" consisting of ancient materials that can help scientists understand how the early solar system formed, Xinhua reported this week. The comet, meanwhile, orbits between Mars and Jupiter and is alluring to researchers because it exhibits some features more commonly associated with asteroids. The Tianwen-2 mission is expected to last around a decade. China's space programme is the third to put humans in orbit -- after the United States and the Soviet Union -- and has also landed robotic rovers on Mars and the Moon. Its space station, Tiangong -- whose name means "celestial palace" in Chinese -- is the jewel in its crown. Last month, China sent three astronauts to Tiangong for a six-month stint as part of the Shenzhou-20 mission.
DW
4 days ago
- Science
- DW
China launches mission to get asteroid samples – DW – 05/29/2025
If the mission succeeds, it will make China the third country to fetch the asteroid rocks. China on Thursday launched its first space mission to retrieve samples from a nearby asteroid and conduct research back home, the Xinhua state news agency reported. A successful completion of the mission could make China, a fast-growing space power, the third nation to get hold of the pristine asteroid rocks. What do we know about the mission? The mission began with a Long March-3B rocket carrying the Tianwen-2 probe blasting off from the Xichang launch site in southwestern Sichuan province at 1:31 a.m. local time (1731 GMT/UTC). It took 18 minutes for the Tianwen-2 spacecraft to enter a transfer orbit for asteroid 2016HO3, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) said, according to Xinhua. "The spacecraft unfolded its solar panels smoothly, and the CNSA declared the launch a success," the news agency wrote. Tianwen-2 is scheduled to arrive at the asteroid in July 2026 and shoot a capsule packed with rocks back to Earth for a landing in November 2027. The asteroid was discovered in 2016 by scientists in Hawaii and is roughly 40 to 100 metres (130-330 feet) in diameter and revolves relatively close to Earth. The Tianmen-2 spacecraft is also tasked with exploring the comet 311P, according to the country's space agency. China's 'space dream' China has swiftly made its mark with its expanding space program. In the past few years, it has poured billions of dollars into its space program to achieve what President Xi Jinping describes as the country's "space dream." China already has its own space station, and in recent years, it has managed to send robots to the far side of the moon. It is now planning to send humans to the lunar surface by 2030. What is driving China's space ambitions? To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Edited by: Farah Bahgat
RTHK
4 days ago
- Science
- RTHK
China launches probe to retrieve asteroid samples
China launches probe to retrieve asteroid samples The Tianwen-2 probe has the task of collecting samples from the near-Earth asteroid 2016HO3. Image: CNSA China on Thursday launched a space probe on the nation's first mission to retrieve samples from an asteroid and bring them home for research, the Xinhua state news agency reported. A Long March-3B rocket carrying the Tianwen-2 probe blasted off from the Xichang launch site in southwestern Sichuan province at 1.31 am. About 18 minutes later, the probe was sent into a transfer orbit the near-Earth asteroid 2016HO3, according to the China National Space Administration (CNSA). "Shan Zhongde, head of the China National Space Administration, stated that the Tianwen-2 mission represents a significant step in China's new journey of interplanetary exploration," the news agency reported. Discovered by scientists in Hawaii in 2016, the asteroid is roughly 40 to 100 metres in diameter. It is a "living fossil" consisting of ancient materials that can help scientists understand how the early solar system formed, Xinhua reported earlier. The comet, meanwhile, orbits between Mars and Jupiter and is alluring to researchers because it exhibits some features more commonly associated with asteroids. (Xinhua, AFP)
New Straits Times
4 days ago
- Science
- New Straits Times
China launches space probe seeking asteroid samples: Xinhua
BEIJING: China on Thursday launched a space probe on the country's first mission to retrieve samples from an asteroid and bring them home for research, the Xinhua state news agency reported. Beijing has ploughed billions of dollars into its space programme in recent years in an effort to achieve what President Xi Jinping describes as the country's "space dream." It has built a space station orbiting the Earth and plans to run a crewed mission to the Moon this decade ahead of establishing a permanent base there. A Long March-3B rocket carrying the Tianwen-2 probe blasted off from the Xichang launch site in southwestern Sichuan province at 1.31am (1731 GMT). About 18 minutes later, the Tianwen-2 probe was sent into a transfer orbit from Earth to the asteroid 2016HO3, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) said, according to Xinhua. "The spacecraft unfolded its solar panels smoothly, and the CNSA declared the launch a success," the news agency wrote. Despite the mission's long duration and significant risks, Shan "expressed his expectation of yielding groundbreaking discoveries and expanding humanity's knowledge of the cosmos," according to Xinhua. Tianwen-2 is tasked with collecting samples from the near-Earth asteroid 2016HO3, and exploring the comet 311P, according to the country's space agency. Discovered by scientists in Hawaii in 2016, the asteroid is roughly 40 to 100 metres (130-330 feet) in diameter and orbits relatively close to Earth. It is a "living fossil" consisting of ancient materials that can help scientists understand how the early solar system formed, Xinhua reported this week. The comet, meanwhile, orbits between Mars and Jupiter and is alluring to researchers because it exhibits some features more commonly associated with asteroids. The Tianwen-2 mission is expected to last around a decade. China's space programme is the third to put humans in orbit – after the United States and the Soviet Union – and has also landed robotic rovers on Mars and the Moon. Its space station, Tiangong – whose name means "celestial palace" in Chinese – is the jewel in its crown. Last month, China sent three astronauts to Tiangong for a six-month stint as part of the Shenzhou-20 mission.--AFP
Straits Times
4 days ago
- Science
- Straits Times
China launches space probe seeking asteroid samples
A Long March-3B rocket carrying the Tianwen-2 probe blasted off from the Xichang launch site in south-western Sichuan province. PHOTO: REUTERS BEIJING - China on May 29 launched a space probe on the country's first mission to retrieve samples from an asteroid and bring them home for research, the Xinhua state news agency reported. Beijing has ploughed billions of dollars into its space programme in recent years in an effort to achieve what President Xi Jinping describes as the country's 'space dream'. It has built a space station orbiting the Earth and plans to run a crewed mission to the Moon this decade ahead of establishing a permanent base there. A Long March-3B rocket carrying the Tianwen-2 probe blasted off from the Xichang launch site in south-western Sichuan province at 1.31 am. About 18 minutes later, the Tianwen-2 probe was sent into a transfer orbit from Earth to the asteroid 2016HO3, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) said, according to Xinhua. 'The spacecraft unfolded its solar panels smoothly, and the CNSA declared the launch a success,' the news agency wrote. Tianwen-2 is tasked with collecting samples from the near-Earth asteroid 2016HO3, and exploring the comet 311P, according to the country's space agency. Discovered by scientists in Hawaii in 2016, the asteroid is roughly 40m to 100m in diameter and orbits relatively close to Earth. It is a 'living fossil' consisting of ancient materials that can help scientists understand how the early solar system formed, Xinhua reported this week. The comet, meanwhile, orbits between Mars and Jupiter and is alluring to researchers because it exhibits some features more commonly associated with asteroids. The Tianwen-2 mission is expected to last around a decade. China's space programme is the third to put humans in orbit – after the United States and the Soviet Union – and has also landed robotic rovers on Mars and the Moon. Its space station, Tiangong – whose name means 'celestial palace' in Chinese – is the jewel in its crown. In April, China sent three astronauts to Tiangong for a six-month stint as part of the Shenzhou-20 mission. AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
