The Chinese spacecraft "Tianwen-2" has approached to approximately 20 kilometers of the asteroid Kamoʻoalewa, which is considered one of the seven known quasi-satellites of Earth. This was reported by UNN citing Space.com and the Chinese agency "Xinhua".
The probe has already transmitted the first clear image of this celestial body.
Details
The "Tianwen-2" spacecraft was launched in May 2025. According to Chinese media, the probe spent about 400 days to reach the asteroid, covering approximately 620 million miles.
In the near future, it will move alongside Kamoʻoalewa and collect data on its composition, structure, and physical characteristics. After that, China plans to attempt to collect samples from the asteroid's surface.
To achieve this, the mission envisions the use of two methods: short-term contact with the surface and anchoring the spacecraft to the asteroid using a special anchor. In the second case, the probe is to use an ultrasonic drill to obtain rock samples.
If the mission is successful, China will become the third country in the world to have obtained samples from an asteroid. At the same time, the PRC may be the first to use the method of anchoring the spacecraft to the surface of a celestial body for this purpose.
Planetary scientist Christina Thomas of Northern Arizona University noted that Kamoʻoalewa is the smallest object to which humanity has ever sent a spacecraft.
What is known about Kamoʻoalewa
The asteroid was discovered in April 2016 using a survey telescope in Hawaii. Kamoʻoalewa belongs to the quasi-satellites — space objects that orbit the Sun but remain near Earth for an extended period.
The asteroid's dimensions are only a few tens of meters, and its exact mass is still unknown.
Kamoʻoalewa completes a full rotation on its axis in about half an hour. Due to its rapid rotation, small size, and weak gravity, sample collection will be one of the most challenging stages of the mission.
The Chinese probe, weighing nearly two tons, will have to perform maneuvers extremely carefully to avoid affecting the asteroid's trajectory.
Recall
Earlier, we wrote that the Chinese lunar probe "Chang'e-6" successfully returned to Earth with the first samples from the unexplored far side of the Moon after a nearly two-month mission.