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China's Tianwen-2 Captures Earth Selfie on Asteroid Mission

10/5/2025

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Summary

Story summary

China's Tianwen-2 spacecraft captured a selfie with Earth from 26.5 million miles away en route to asteroid Kamo’oalewa.
The China National Space Administration (CNSA) aims to collect asteroid samples and return them by late 2027.
Kamo’oalewa is a quasi-moon of Earth and may be a lunar fragment.
After sampling, Tianwen-2 will continue deep-space exploration, targeting comet 311P/PANSTARRS in 2035.

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Story summary

China's Tianwen-2 spacecraft captured a selfie with Earth from 26.5 million miles away en route to asteroid Kamo’oalewa.
The China National Space Administration (CNSA) aims to collect asteroid samples and return them by late 2027.
Kamo’oalewa is a quasi-moon of Earth and may be a lunar fragment.
After sampling, Tianwen-2 will continue deep-space exploration, targeting comet 311P/PANSTARRS in 2035.