China plans Tianwen-3 launch in 2028 for 2031 Mars sample return, report says
China plans to launch the Tianwen-3 mission around 2028 with the objective of returning Martian samples to Earth around 2031, according to an article published by the People’s Daily.
The Tech TL;DR:
- China’s Tianwen-3 mission is scheduled to launch around 2028 to target Mars sample collection.
- Return of Martian materials to Earth is targeted for approximately 2031.
- Shanghai Astronomical Observatory’s VLBI system provides the trajectory measurement for spacecraft navigation.
China Plans Tianwen-3 Launch for 2028
The scheduled 2028 launch window for Tianwen-3 follows China’s previous interplanetary milestones, including the May 15, 2021 landing of a probe and rover on Mars. Zhang Jiajun, an associate research fellow at the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, detailed the timeline and technical obstacles in an article titled “Why do we venture to Mars?” published in the People’s Daily.
Returning material from the Martian surface requires overcoming a significant technological gap. While space agencies can successfully send and land spacecraft on the Red Planet, the operational capability to extract, secure, and launch samples back toward Earth remains under development.
VLBI System Measures Spacecraft Trajectories
Spacecraft communication and navigation rely on the very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) orbit determination system. Led by the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory, this system measures spacecraft trajectories during interplanetary transit to ensure correct orbital insertion. The technology underwent preliminary validation during the Tianwen-1 mission.
Interplanetary transport and information exchange constitute two of the three fundamental barriers identified by researchers before human presence can be established. The third barrier involves sustaining human life against extreme environmental factors.
Mars Presents Extreme Engineering Challenges
Mars presents extreme engineering challenges for long-term operations, featuring low temperatures, high radiation levels, minimal atmospheric pressure, reduced gravity, and restricted access to water and oxygen. Utilizing local in-situ resources remains an area requiring extensive engineering exploration.
Despite these environmental hurdles, researchers view Mars as a primary stepping stone for deep space exploration beyond the Earth-moon system. Compared to Venus, which possesses a hostile surface environment, or Mercury, which orbits too close to the Sun, Mars offers a thin atmosphere, water ice, and seasonal cycles comparable to Earth.