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China Mars

China To Launch Mars-Sampling Mission In 2028 (spacenews.com) 64

"China is on track to launch its Tianwen-3 mission to Mars in 2028, two years earlier than previously planned," writes the South China Morning Post, a change that one space policy research believes "suggests a rising confidence by China in its ability to get the technology right for the complex operation." On Thursday, Liu Jizhong, chief designer of China's Mars mission, told the Second International Conference on Deep Space Exploration in Huangshan, Anhui province, that the team aimed to bring back around 600 grams (21 oz) of Martian soil... A 2028 launch date should see Martian samples returned to Earth around July 2031, according to a previous presentation made by Tianwen-1 mission lead Sun Zezhou at Nanjing University in 2022.
The mission will actually consist of two launches from Earth, reports Space News: Two Long March 5 rocket launches will carry a lander and ascent vehicle and an orbiter and return module respectively. Entry, descent and landing will build on technology used for the Tianwen-1 rover landing. The mission may also include a helicopter and a six-legged crawling robot for collecting samples away from the landing site...

NASA is working on its own, more complex Mars sample return mission. However the program is being reassessed, following projected cost overruns. Studies are being conducted to identify concepts that can deliver samples faster and cheaper than current plans.

Liu stated that the search for evidence of life is the Tianwen-3's top scientific goal, according to state media China Central Television (CCTV). Earlier reporting notes that potential landing areas will be selected based partly on astrobiological relevance. This includes environments potentially suitable for the emergence of life and its preservation, such as sedimentary or hydrothermal systems, evidence of past aqueous activity and geological diversity.

"China states that it plans to work with scientists worldwide to cooperatively study and share Martian samples and data," according to the article: The China National Space Administration has made samples from its Chang'e-5 lunar nearside sample return mission available to research applications for international researchers. The same is expected for the recently-completed Chang'e-6 lunar farside mission."

Further ahead, Tianwen-3 will include partnering with countries and research institutions to define the objectives and tasks of a future Mars research station. This will include analyzing requirements, conducting conceptual studies, design implementation plans, and tackling key technological challenges.

Thanks to Slashdot reader Iamthecheese for sharing the news.
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China To Launch Mars-Sampling Mission In 2028

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  • by GFS666 ( 6452674 ) on Sunday September 08, 2024 @11:51AM (#64772110)
    Launching spacecraft to Mars and orbiting it or landing on it has proven to be problematic, so much so that it's referred to as the "Mars Graveyard". Yes, I know that the US has had large successes but, even with all of our knowledge, we have had notable failures. The complexity of launching a probe to Mars, monitoring it over the transit time and then having it perform perfectly in its landing phase is very unforgiving of any mistake, no matter how minor. Add to this that the Chinese seem to be throwing every mission complication (Rover! Helicopter! Return samples!) that they can to this mission. Just them getting to Mars and landing on it successfully when they have never done that before would be a good mission accomplishment.
  • by Growlley ( 6732614 ) on Sunday September 08, 2024 @12:45PM (#64772184)
    China does what it says it will - The US scales back due to 'cost over runs' until the entire project is cancelled.
  • "NASA needs to decide whether it wants to have an effective Mars exploration program or a happily empowered planetary protection bureaucracy. It can't have both. " https://spacenews.com/practical-approach-mars-sample-return-mission/ [spacenews.com]
    • Fun fact, eventually quarantining Mars samples will be pointless anyway. (Hell, it already is....) As more and more nations start exploring it there's going to be more and more opportunities for cross-contamination. So what ever alien life they're hoping to fine over there had best be found quickly, or they should just focus on what comes after the Martian soil no longer "pure" enough for their current research efforts.

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