China’s Tianwen-2 Reaches Earth’s Quasi-Moon Kamo’oalewa, Capturing First Close-up Images

On July 2, 2026, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) announced that the Tianwen-2 spacecraft arrived at the asteroid Kamo’oalewa (formally 2016 HO3) at a distance of roughly 20 kilometers (12.5 miles). The probe transmitted the first clear photograph of the quasi-satellite, a historic first for any nation to image an object of this class from such proximity. CNSA confirmed the spacecraft’s arrival on July 4 and released the image on July 6.

Chinese spacecraft beams back unprecedented close-up image of Kamo'oalewa, a tiny asteroid that orbits the Sun while staying locked near Earth

Kamo’oalewa belongs to a small group of seven known quasi-satellites—objects that orbit the Sun but remain near Earth for centuries. Discovered by the Pan-STARRS survey at Haleakala Observatory in Hawaii on April 27, 2016, the asteroid measures 30 to 100 meters (?100-330 feet) across and completes a full rotation every ?30 minutes. Its Hawaiian name means “oscillating celestial fragment.” Scientists have debated its origin; a 2024 Nature Astronomy study suggested it could be lunar material ejected by the impact that formed the Giordano Bruno crater, while other work points to lunar-like silicate composition.

Chinese spacecraft beams back unprecedented close-up image of Kamo'oalewa, a tiny asteroid that orbits the Sun while staying locked near Earth

Launched in May 2025, Tianwen-2 spent ?400 days traveling ?620 million miles (?1 billion kilometers) to reach Kamo’oalewa. The nearly two-ton probe carries 11 scientific instruments—cameras, spectrometers, radars—and will conduct a series of observation passes to map composition, structure, and physical characteristics. Three sampling strategies are planned: (1) hovering to collect particles, (2) a brief gas-driven touch-and-go, and (3) anchoring to the surface with an ultrasonic drill. Successful retrieval would make China the third country to obtain asteroid samples and the first to use an anchor-and-attach method.

Chinese probe approaches Earth's mysterious quasi-satellite for the first time

• Launch: May 2025

Futurism

• Travel time: 400 days

Futurism

• Distance covered: 620 million miles (?1 billion km)

Chinese spacecraft beams back unprecedented close-up image of Kamo'oalewa, a tiny asteroid that orbits the Sun while staying locked near Earth

• Probe mass: ?2 tons

Chinese probe approaches Earth's mysterious quasi-satellite for the first time

• Approach distance: 20 km (12.5 mi)

Chinese spacecraft beams back unprecedented close-up image of Kamo'oalewa, a tiny asteroid that orbits the Sun while staying locked near Earth

• Asteroid size: 30-100 m (100-330 ft)

Chinese spacecraft beams back unprecedented close-up image of Kamo'oalewa, a tiny asteroid that orbits the Sun while staying locked near Earth

• Rotation period: ~0.5 hour

Chinese probe approaches Earth's mysterious quasi-satellite for the first time

CNSA’s release stated that Tianwen-2 “has arrived at the asteroid and will begin a series of increasingly close observation passes to map the surface and identify the best sampling site.” State-run outlet Xinhua reported the 400-day journey and highlighted the mission’s potential to answer long-standing questions about the asteroid’s origin. The UNN news service, citing Space.com and Xinhua, confirmed the probe’s proximity of “approximately 20 kilometers” and its transmission of the first clear image.

Chinese probe approaches Earth's mysterious quasi-satellite for the first time

The asteroid’s rapid spin, diminutive gravity, and irregular shape create a narrow timing window for any contact. Engineers must execute “extremely gentle” maneuvers to avoid altering Kamo’oalewa’s trajectory, as even a slight push could jeopardize both the sample-collection attempt and the spacecraft’s stability.

Chinese probe approaches Earth's mysterious quasi-satellite for the first time

• “Kamo’oalewa is the smallest object that humans have visited with a spacecraft.” — Christina Thomas, Planetary Scientist, Northern Arizona University

Futurism

• “The Chinese spacecraft "Tianwen-2" has approached to approximately 20 kilometers of the asteroid Kamo‘oalewa, which is considered one of the seven known quasi-satellites of Earth.” — UNN report

Chinese probe approaches Earth's mysterious quasi-satellite for the first time

• “Kamo’oalewa, formally designated 2016 HO3, is one of only seven known quasi-satellites of Earth—objects that orbit the Sun independently but remain locked in a gravitational dance that keeps them traveling alongside our planet through space.” — CNSA documentation

Chinese spacecraft beams back unprecedented close-up image of Kamo'oalewa, a tiny asteroid that orbits the Sun while staying locked near Earth

• “If the mission is successful, China will become the third country in the world to have obtained samples from an asteroid.” — Xinhua

Chinese probe approaches Earth's mysterious quasi-satellite for the first time

After an anticipated five-year stay at Kamo’oalewa, Tianwen-2 is slated to continue toward 311P, a main-belt comet beyond Mars, potentially extending the mission to a decade and enabling the first combined asteroid-and-comet sample-return campaign.

Chinese spacecraft beams back unprecedented close-up image of Kamo'oalewa, a tiny asteroid that orbits the Sun while staying locked near Earth