On July 23, 2020, the Long March 5 Y-4 rocket launched from the Wenchang Space Launch Center on Hainan Island, China, carrying the unmanned Tianwen-1 Mars probe. Reuters
China is aiming to achieve a major milestone in space exploration by launching a mission to return samples from Mars as early as 2028. This timeline is two years ahead of previous estimates, marking a significant advancement in the country's space program.
The Tianwen-3 mission, which will be China’s ambitious endeavour to bring Martian samples back to Earth, is expected to involve two launches around 2028. Liu Jizhong, the chief designer of the mission, announced these details at a recent deep-space exploration event in Anhui province. The new target is a shift from an earlier 2030 plan, aligning more closely with a 2022 proposal for a 2028 launch and a 2031 return.
This announcement follows China’s success in June when it retrieved samples from the far side of the moon—a historic achievement. In contrast, NASA and the European Space Agency are still working on their Mars sample return missions, facing challenges with budget and complexity. The U.S. space agency is exploring quicker and more cost-effective options to return Mars samples, which are currently projected to be back on Earth by 2040.
China's quest to be the first to return Martian samples is part of its broader goal to enhance its space capabilities and fulfill leader Xi Jinping’s vision of becoming a leading space power. This effort is in line with China’s other achievements, such as uncrewed lunar missions and the establishment of its own space station. The space race is intensifying as countries worldwide invest in exploring and utilizing the resources and scientific knowledge that can be gained from lunar and deep-space missions.
In 2021, China's Tianwen-1 probe captured a detailed photo of Mars' surface while orbiting the planet. AP Photo
The Tianwen-3 mission will not only seek to bring back samples from Mars but will also focus on significant scientific goals. These include searching for signs of past life, testing new technologies for sampling, and exploring methods for launching from Mars to return the samples to Earth. Liu Jizhong highlighted the challenges of this mission, including the difficulty of launching a rocket from Mars and ensuring its reliability.
International collaboration will play a role in the mission, with plans to include other countries' payloads and share samples and data for future research. This cooperative approach aims to foster global partnerships and enhance the mission’s success.
China’s Tianwen program, named roughly "Questions to Heaven," achieved its first major success in 2021 when the Tianwen-1 probe entered Mars’ orbit and deployed the Zhurong rover on the surface. The rover's landing in Utopia Planitia made China the third country to land on Mars. The rover's mission focused on studying Mars’ minerals, water distribution, and the possibility of ancient life. Although the rover was designed for a 90-day mission, it operated for nearly a year and travelled over 6,300 feet before hibernating due to dust accumulation.
In contrast, NASA's Mars exploration began with the Viking 1 mission in 1976 and has continued with recent missions like the Perseverance rover, which is collecting samples for future return to Earth. NASA’s Mars sample return mission has faced high costs and complex planning, leading to a review of more efficient methods for sample retrieval.
