NHK Report: China, which is intensifying its space exploration efforts, has unveiled a new Mars exploration plan, stating that the next-generation Mars probe "Tianwen-3" will be launched around 2028, two years from now, and aims to bring back samples collected on Mars around 2031.
According to official Chinese media reports, the China National Space Administration announced on the 24th the progress of its Mars exploration program. Under this plan, the new Mars probe "Tianwen-3" is scheduled to launch around 2028 and intends to return samples collected on Mars around 2031. Additionally, the probe will investigate potential signs of life, mineral composition, and atmospheric conditions on Mars. Furthermore, another separate mission, "Tianwen-4," is planned for launch around 2030 to explore Jupiter—the largest planet in the solar system—and its moons.
China has set a goal to become a leading global power in space exploration, aiming to establish itself as a "space power." In Mars exploration, China successfully landed its first probe in 2021, becoming the second country after the United States to conduct surface exploration on Mars. In lunar exploration, China achieved the world's first sample collection from the far side of the Moon and successfully returned them to Earth in 2024. Moreover, China is striving to achieve crewed lunar landing before 2030, intensifying competition with the United States.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1863494183769291/
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