China's Tianwen-2 captures first close-up image of Earth's quasi-moon ahead of historic sample mission
Published on: July 10, 2026, 3:39 p.m. | Source: The Economic Times
China's Tianwen-2 spacecraft has reached Kamo'oalewa, a temporary quasi-moon of Earth. The mission faces challenges due to the asteroid's small size and fragile structure. Sample collection will be significantly more difficult than initially anticipated by scientists. Successful sample return would make China the third nation to achieve this feat. The mission aims to provide insights into the early Solar System and asteroid origins.
