Chinas Tianwen-2 Reaches Quasi-Moon Asteroid 2016 HO3, Begins Science Operations at 20 km
Summary: Reported July 10, 2026： After ~400 days of flight covering 1 billion km, Chinas Tianwen-2 spacecraft successfully rendezvoused with quasi-moon asteroid 2016 HO3 and began science operations at a distance of about 20 km.
According to the China National Space Administration, the Tianwen-2 probe arrived in the vicinity of near-Earth asteroid 2016 HO3 in July 2026. Launched on 3 May 2025 aboard a Long March 3B rocket, the spacecraft completed roughly 400 days of deep-space cruise covering about 1 billion km before establishing a stable rendezvous with the target body and settling into a 20 km science-operation station. The exact arrival and status-confirmation timeline awaits further official release.
Asteroid 2016 HO3, officially designated 469219 Kamoʻoalewa, is a quasi-satellite of Earth. It orbits the Sun on a path that remains close to Earth’s orbit, producing a long-term co-orbital configuration as seen from the ground. With an estimated diameter of roughly 40 meters, it is regarded as a valuable target for studying primitive small-body composition and the near-Earth environment. At the 20 km station, Tianwen-2 is conducting remote-sensing observations including imaging, spectral analysis, and rotational-state measurements; according to reports, a closer sampling attempt will follow in a subsequent phase.
Tianwen-2 is China’s first asteroid sample-return mission. Under the current mission profile, after completing science operations and sampling at 2016 HO3, the spacecraft will return to Earth to release a sample capsule and subsequently use a gravity assist to proceed to main-belt comet 311P/PANSTARRS for an extended-science phase. The arrival at the quasi-moon marks one of the most critical milestones of the mission, with details on the upcoming sampling, departure, and return steps pending further official announcement.