China plans to launch the Tianwen-2 probe on May 29 in order to elucidate the mysteries surrounding a geocroiser asteroid and a comet on the main belt, the national administration of China (China National Space Administration, CNSA) announced on Monday.
The probe will collect samples of an asteroid geocroiser coded 2016Ho3, thus marking the first asteroid sampling by China, then explore the Codée 311p comet on the main asteroid belt, said the CNSA.
The preparations for the mission are currently taking place without incident at the Xichang satellite launch center, located in the Chinese province of Sichuan (southwest), and the loading of the proprietary of the long march rocket Y110, in charge of launch, should start soon, noted the CNSA.
Previously, the Tianwen-2 probe had completed a series of planned procedures, including assembly, tests, fuel supplies, displacement as well as functional checks and joint tests, continued the administration.
The rocket, transferred from the technical zone to the launch area on May 14, completed mooring operations, integration of the payload, assembly of the fairing, as well as the inspections and general tests, she said, adding that coordinated exercises had also been carried out between the various control centers and surveillance sites.
