Overview
- Tianwen‑2 took the first close‑up image of Kamoʻoalewa on July 2 while stationed roughly 20 kilometers from the quasi‑satellite, marking the start of close‑proximity science operations.
- The spacecraft’s imagery shows the target to be far smaller than earlier ground estimates—about 16–30 meters across—which mission teams say will make collecting surface material more technically difficult.
- To raise the odds of success, Tianwen‑2 carries 11 scientific instruments and three redundant sampling methods—hovering scoop, touch‑and‑go, and anchoring—so engineers can choose the best technique after site surveys.
- Optical navigation from the approach has tightened the asteroid’s position from hundreds of kilometers to the kilometer scale, enabling safer maneuvers and precise sample‑site selection.
- After months of reconnaissance and planned sampling in 2026–early 2027, the probe is scheduled to depart in April 2027 and return samples to Earth by late November 2027 before continuing on to study comet 311P/PANSTARRS.