Source: SFGate
“China launched a spacecraft that promises to return samples from an asteroid near Mars and ‘yield groundbreaking discoveries and expand humanity’s knowledge of the cosmos’, the country’s space agency said. The Tianwen-2 probe launched early Thursday from southern China aboard the workhorse Long March 3-B rocket. The probe will collect samples from the asteroid 2016HO3 and explore the main-belt comet 311P, which lies even farther from Earth than Mars, according to the China National Space Administration. Shan Zhongde, head of the CNSA, was quoted as saying the Tianwen-2 mission represents a ‘significant step in China’s new journey of interplanetary exploration’ and over its decade-long mission will ‘yield groundbreaking discoveries and expand humanity’s knowledge of the cosmos.’ Samples from 2016HO3 are due to be returned in about two years.” (05/29/25)
https://www.sfgate.com/news/world/article/china-launches-spacecraft-it-says-will-return-20350811.php