HEFEI, September 6, 2024 (TDI): China plans to launch its Tianwen-3 mission around 2028 in two separate launches with the goal of returning samples from Mars, said a Chinese space expert.
Liu Jizhong, the chief designer of China’s Mars sample-return mission, provided details about the plan at the 2nd International Deep Space Exploration Conference held in Tunxi, Huangshan City, Anhui Province.
“Following this year’s successful retrieval of the first samples from the far side of the moon with the Chang’e-6 mission, we are now focusing on Mars, which presents greater challenges due to its distance,” Liu explained.
“The Mars sample-return mission will require two launches because our current rockets have limited capacity. We will use two Long March-5 carrier rockets for this mission.”
The primary scientific objective of the Tianwen-3 mission is to search for signs of life on Mars. Additionally, the mission will explore the Martian climate, geology, and internal processes.
Liu emphasized that the mission is exceptionally complex and will involve extensive preliminary studies to identify scientifically valuable sample sites.
“The retrieval of Martian samples represents one of the most technically demanding space exploration tasks since the Apollo program,” Liu noted.
Key tasks for the mission include collecting samples from the Martian surface, launching them into Mars orbit, and ensuring the protection of both Mars and Earth from contamination.
The mission will consist of 13 phases, employing both in-situ and remote-sensing technologies.
To gather diverse samples, the mission will use three methods: multi-point surface sampling, fixed-point in-depth drilling, and in-flight vehicle sampling.
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China will adhere to international conventions to prevent contamination during the mission and will work in collaboration with global scientists.
The Tianwen-3 mission will incorporate international payloads and engage in joint research on Mars samples and data.
China aims to collaborate with other countries and research institutions worldwide to develop a research station on Mars, involving mission planning, requirement analysis, conceptual research, and key technology advancements.
