
analysisJune 17, 2026
Tianwen-2: Inside China's First Asteroid Sample-Return Mission
China's Tianwen-2 reached the quasi-moon Kamoʻoalewa in June 2026 to grab an asteroid sample, return it to Earth by 2027, then chase a comet.

China's Tianwen-2 reached the quasi-moon Kamoʻoalewa in June 2026 to grab an asteroid sample, return it to Earth by 2027, then chase a comet.