HELSINKI — Scientists suggest that China should increase its research on asteroids and concentrate on plans for sample return missions.
A recent paper in the Chinese Journal of Space Sciences recommends that China’s future asteroid exploration should prioritize cost-effective, frequent sample return missions and emphasize better coordination between missions. It also suggests the establishment of scientific design teams to better support China’s future asteroid explorations.
Studying and exploring asteroids can provide new insights into the early stages of the solar system and possibly the origins of life. It can also pave the way for assessing and utilizing space resources, as well as developing defense strategies against asteroids.
China is expected to launch its first asteroid sample return mission in 2025. The mission will focus on the near-Earth object (NEO) 469219 Kamoʻoalewa, collecting samples and returning to Earth around 2.5 years after launch. This mission will utilize techniques similar to NASA’s OSIRIS-REx and JAXA’s Hayabusa2, including a touch-and-go technique and an anchor-and-attach system with drills at the tips of landing legs. Tianwen-2 planetary defense mission
Its first —a combined asteroid deflection and observation test visiting 2019 VL5, another NEO—will also launch next year.However, the paper argues that China’s progress on asteroid research is still in its early stages, especially when compared to its achievements and aspirations in lunar exploration. The country is set to launch its first lunar far side sample return mission in May, with plans for lunar south pole missions and an international moon base over the next decade.
A strategic focus on asteroids could contribute to overall understanding of the cosmos and also lay the groundwork for future space resource utilization and planetary defense.The authors, from institutes including the Institute of Geology and Geophysics and School of Earth and Planetary Sciences, both under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), attempt systematic study of past asteroid exploration missions and their scientific objectives, payload configurations, and research outcomes. Their paper discusses development trends and research, focusing on sample return missions such as NEAR (Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous) 253 Mathilde, 433 Eros Flyby & Landing
Study mass, volume, composition, and surface properties
25143 Itokawa Hayabusa2 and OSIRIS-REx.
| Sample Return | 1996 | Return samples for detailed analysis of asteroid material | 4 Vesta, 1 Ceres | Map surface, study composition and internal structure |
| Hayabusa | 2003 | 162173 Ryugu, 1998 KY26 (Future) | Sample Return & Impact Experiment | Return surface and subsurface samples, study crater formation |
| Dawn | 2007 | 101955 Bennu | Orbital | Sample Return |
| Hayabusa2 | 2014 | Map and return samples, study surface and regolith properties | OSIRIS-APEX (Extended mission of OSIRIS-REx) | 99942 Apophis |
| OSIRIS-REx | 2016 | Detailed survey to assess asteroid’s properties and impact threat | Multiple Jupiter Trojans and main belt asteroids | Study diversity of Trojan asteroids to understand solar system’s early history |
| DART (Double Asteroid Redirection Test) | 2029 | 65803 Didymos and its moonlet, Dimorphos | Flyby | Kinetic Impactor |
| Lucy | 2021 | Examine asteroid deflection methods for protecting planets from impact | Flyby | Investigate metallic asteroid to learn about planetary cores |
| 469219 Kamo`oalewa | 2021 | Sample Return | Bring back samples from Earth’s quasi-satellite for thorough analysis | Chinese Asteroid Defense Mission |
| Psyche | 2023 | 16 Psyche | Orbital | Impact Experiment + Observation |
| Tianwen-2 | 2025 | Examine asteroid deflection methods for planetary protection | 3200 Phaethon | Flyby & Dust Analyzer |
| Analyze dust particles and explore the asteroid’s surroundings | 2025 | 2019 VL5 | 65803 Didymos and its moonlet, Dimorphos (Post-DART impact) | Evaluate the result of DART’s impact and study a pair of asteroids |
| DESTINY+ | 2025 | Major past and upcoming asteroid missions. Credit: SpaceNews/CJSS | The detailed study also includes elaborate laboratory setups, sample management and distribution, and initial analysis processes for samples returned from missions. | The authors suggest that the use of asteroid resources is gradually becoming an important part of future deep space exploration. There is also a growing interest in planetary defense missions around the world. |
| HERA | 2024 | Opportunities in early asteroid field | Observation | states there is a pressing need for China to increase its asteroid research, indicating vast untapped potential for groundbreaking discoveries and technological innovation. It suggests that the best approach is to sample various types of asteroids inexpensively and multiple times, as well as to coordinate distinct observation, sampling, impact and resource missions for the best outcomes. |
China’s first visit to an asteroid was a flyby of 4179 Toutatis in 2012. The Chang’e-2 lunar orbiter performed the pass as an extended mission objective.
A team also proposed a mission to return samples from an E-type asteroid, known for their high reflectivity and composition rich in enstatite and metals, under a CAS
strategic space science program
The paper . While some of the proposals have advanced, the status of the program is uncertain and may be revised in the near future.
Recently a Chinese delegation to the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) under the United Nations appeared to state that China
believes space resource utilization is acceptable
With countries around the world in the initial stages of asteroid exploration, timely participation in the field of deep space asteroid exploration will place China in a favorable position in international space exploration activities, according to the authors. As well as planning new missions, the paper calls for China to quickly organize the assessment of key scientific questions related to asteroids. It also calls for a unified scientific team to oversee mission planning and develop the most optimized analysis plans, laying the foundation for the future management and utilization of returned samples.An increased Chinese focus on asteroid research and missions could have a series of implications for the field internationally. It could lead to improved global cooperation while also, or instead, stimulating strategic competition. It could also influence space law and governance, particularly with regards to resource utilization, while also generating rich scientific data and research possibilities.
Scientists suggest that China should increase its efforts in studying asteroids and concentrate on developing plans for bringing back samples. considers space resource utilization as permissible.
With countries around the world in the initial stages of asteroid exploration, timely participation in the field of deep space asteroid exploration will place China in a favorable position in international space exploration activities, according to the authors.
As well as planning new missions, the paper calls for China to quickly organize the assessment of key scientific questions related to asteroids. It also calls for a unified scientific team to oversee mission planning and develop the most optimized analysis plans, laying the foundation for the future management and utilization of returned samples.
An amplified Chinese focus on asteroid research and missions could have a series of ramifications for the field internationally. It could yield enhanced global cooperation while also, or instead, stimulating strategic competition. It could also influence space law and governance, particularly with regards to resource utilization, while also generating rich scientific data and research possibilities.
