China’s Latest Space Mission: Tianwen 2 Probe Captures First Selfie on Quasi-Moon Quest
China has just sent its first visual message from over three million kilometers away. It is heading towards one of the most enigmatic objects surrounding our planet: Kamo’oalewa. Its objective is clear: to approach, study, collect samples, and bring them back.
## A Portrait from the Void: The Journey Begins
The image released by China shows one of the solar panels deployed in space. It was captured by a camera onboard the probe, launched on May 29, 2024, from Xichang using a Long March 3B rocket. Kamo’oalewa will spend several months orbiting the asteroid, evaluating its low gravity and carefully selecting the ideal sampling point. The collection phase will be complemented by a reentry capsule that will send the materials back to Earth by the end of 2027.
## Kamo’oalewa: A Satellite That Isn’t
With a diameter of just 50 meters, Kamo’oalewa orbits the Sun in a trajectory similar to Earth’s, despite appearing to be linked to our planet. Some theories suggest it is a fragment detached from the Moon, making this mission an unprecedented opportunity to directly study its origins, composition, and potential threats. China is not only seeking scientific answers but also represents a significant step in the exploration of near-Earth objects, marking the beginning of a new era in interplanetary space exploration.
