China's Tianwen-2 targets 'mini-moon' asteroid for sample return

China's Tianwen-2 spacecraft is set to reach a small asteroid, Kamoʻoalewa, in early July for a sample-return mission. This asteroid, roughly the size of the Statue of Liberty, is unique because it orbits the sun in sync with Earth, earning it the nickname 'mini-moon.' Scientists are particularly interested as Kamoʻoalewa's composition may resemble lunar rocks, suggesting it could be a fragment of Earth's moon. After collecting samples, Tianwen-2 will depart in 2027 to return them to Earth, then proceed to a main-belt comet by 2035. AI

RANK_REASON Major space exploration mission by a national agency. [lever_c_demoted from significant: ic=1 ai=0.1]

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