China’s Tianwen-2 mission is approaching a historic event: in early July 2026, the probe will land on the Earth’s quasi-asteroid Kamoʻ oalewa for the first time. This small space object measuring 40 to 100 meters could have broken away from the moon millions of years ago in a powerful collision.

The aircraft launched on 29 May 2025 and completed its one-year journey to the destination. After its arrival, Tianwen-2 will spend several months remotely studying the asteroid, mapping its surface in detail and selecting an optimal sampling location. The probe will then collect 20 to 100 milligrams of soil, place the sample in a return capsule and send it back to Earth - expected delivery date: April 2027.

Kamoaleva’s uniqueness lies in its orbit and composition. The asteroid is not located in the main belt between Mars and Jupiter, but moves around the Sun synchronously with the Earth at a distance of about 14.5 million km, making it one of seven known quasi-satellites on our planet. The spectral analysis showed a striking similarity of Kamoaleva with lunar rocks brought by "Apollo" missions, which confirms the hypothesis about the lunar origin of the object.

For research purposes, Tianwen-2 is equipped with 11 scientific instruments. The mission’s success will not only confirm the theory of lunar material being released into space, but also provide unique data on the early history of the Solar System. After completion of the main program, the probe will continue its journey: in 2035 it is to pass the asteroid of the main belt 311P/PANSTARRS.

The China National Space Administration (CNSA) kept the exact proximity parameters secret until recently, but at the end of June the spacecraft was observed during a series of maneuvers prior to asteroid contact. If it succeeds, China will be the third country in history to bring samples from an asteroid to Earth.