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星辰大海第二站,天问二号为何选它?
Guan Cha Zhe Wang· 2025-05-18 15:03
Core Viewpoint - The Tianwen-2 mission represents China's first attempt to conduct asteroid sample return and flyby exploration of a main belt comet, with a planned launch by the end of May 2023 [1][3]. Group 1: Mission Objectives - The Tianwen-2 mission aims to explore asteroid 2016HO3, which is the first known quasi-satellite of Earth, with a diameter of approximately 40-100 meters and a rotation period of about 28 minutes [3][5]. - The mission will also investigate main belt comet 311P, which has an average diameter of about 480 meters and an orbital period of approximately 3.24 years [6][8]. - The mission's scientific goals include determining the physical parameters of both celestial bodies, such as orbital and rotational characteristics, surface composition, and internal structure [10][11]. Group 2: Scientific Significance - Asteroid 2016HO3 is considered a "living fossil" that retains primordial information about the early solar system, making it valuable for studying the composition and evolution of solar system materials [5][10]. - The analysis of samples returned from 2016HO3 will provide insights into the origins and evolution of asteroids, as well as the early solar system's formation processes [11][13]. - The exploration of 311P aims to address scientific questions regarding the nature of main belt comets and their formation, potentially reshaping current understanding of these celestial bodies [11][12]. Group 3: Future Plans - The Tianwen-2 mission is part of a broader Chinese planetary exploration program that includes future missions to Mars and the Jupiter system, with plans for Tianwen-3 and Tianwen-4 to achieve Mars sample return and Jupiter exploration, respectively [12][14]. - The mission is expected to enhance China's position in international space exploration activities, particularly in the field of asteroid defense and resource utilization [13][14].