China's Tianwen-2 Nears 130-Foot Kamoʻoalewa for Sample Return as Lunar-Origin Theory Beckons
Updated
Updated · Forbes · Jun 28
China's Tianwen-2 Nears 130-Foot Kamoʻoalewa for Sample Return as Lunar-Origin Theory Beckons
1 articles · Updated · Forbes · Jun 28
Summary
Early July is the target for Tianwen-2 to reach 469219 Kamoʻoalewa, where China plans its first asteroid sample-return attempt before sending a capsule back to Earth in 2027.
40 to 100 meters wide, Kamoʻoalewa could be the smallest asteroid ever visited by a spacecraft, and reflected-light studies suggest it may be a fragment blasted off the moon.
20 to 100 grams of material are to be collected after months of mapping and remote sensing, using both touch-and-go maneuvers and an anchoring system with drills.
Launched on May 28, 2025, Tianwen-2 is due to leave the quasi-satellite in April 2027, land its sample capsule in November 2027, then head toward comet 311P/PanSTARRS for a 2035 arrival.
One of only a handful of known quasi-satellites, Kamoʻoalewa stays near Earth in a 1:1 resonance, making such objects attractive for future science missions and possible asteroid-mining efforts.
Will China's asteroid sample prove it's a lost piece of our Moon, or just a common space rock?
Is China's mission to Earth's 'mini-moon' the start of a new gold rush for asteroid resources?
Tianwen-2’s 2025–2027 Mission: Sampling Kamoʻoalewa and Pioneering China’s Deep Space Exploration
Overview
As of June 2026, China's Tianwen-2 spacecraft is actively maneuvering near the asteroid Kamoʻoalewa after launching in May 2025 and completing its first rendezvous earlier this month. The mission is now in a 'closing' phase, carefully approaching the asteroid to begin detailed studies and prepare for sampling operations. This phased approach allows the spacecraft to observe and characterize Kamoʻoalewa’s surface, which is essential before collecting samples. Tianwen-2’s current operations mark a critical step in China’s first asteroid sample-return mission, aiming to unlock new insights into the origins and evolution of near-Earth objects.