China is on course to retrieve a can containing Martian rock samples and bring it back to Earth. Its grand plans include a lightweight device that will capture Martian rock samples in orbit. The mission is scheduled for 2028, earlier than previously envisaged. The previous timeline for the sample collection programme was 2031, but a few weeks back China announced it was pushing it up.

The Tianwen-3 Mars sample return programme will see two spacecraft being launched at two separate times. One of them would be a lander that would also act as an ascent spacecraft, while the other would be an orbiter that would bring the sample.

The device that will capture the can of samples weighs only 12 kg, according to researchers from the Institute of Aerospace System Engineering in Shanghai. The container itself would be about the size of a large coffee can.&nbsp;

The lander will go ahead first and collect the samples from the surface of Mars over several months. It will sort them and then send the can to the orbiter hovering above using an ascent craft that would be launched from the top of the lander.&nbsp;

The device will catch and secure the container, before transferring it into a storage vessel. The vessel containing the can will then detach from the spacecraft and bring it to Earth, researchers wrote in the journal China Space Science and Technology last month.

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The can will contain about 600 gm&nbsp;of Martian rocks, as per the mission's chief designer.

<h2>Mars sample retrieval device</h2>

The designers tested the device using a prototype to be sure that it worked. It was found to be able to adapt to different entry angles and positions to capture the container. The device also transferred the can into the storage vessel with ease, the researchers wrote.

The researchers further wrote that the "traditional docking and transfer mechanisms" are not being used for the mission since the "platform carrying the samples into orbit has a restricted mass capacity" because of the "limited power available for taking off from the Martian surface".&nbsp;

They added that the new design "offers advantages over similar Western systems" because of being more integrated and significantly lighter.

Senior Chinese space officials announced in September that the mission will bring back samples from the planet’s Utopia Planitia region, or other candidate sites. It will be launched in 2028, while the samples will be retrieved by 2031.&nbsp;

China is on course to retrieve a can containing Martian rock samples and bring it back to Earth. Its grand plans include a lightweight device that will capture Martian rock samples in orbit.

China is on course to retrieve a can containing Martian rock samples and bring it back to Earth. Its grand plans include a lightweight device that will capture Martian rock samples in orbit. The mission is scheduled for 2028, earlier than previously envisaged. The previous timeline for the sample collection programme was 2031, but a few weeks back China announced it was pushing it up. The Tianwen-3 Mars sample return programme will see two spacecraft being launched at two separate times. One of them would be a lander that would also act as an ascent spacecraft, while the other would be an orbiter that would bring the sample. The device that will capture the can of samples weighs only 12 kg, according to researchers from the Institute of Aerospace System Engineering in Shanghai. The container itself would be about the size of a large coffee can. The lander will go ahead first and collect the samples from the surface of Mars over several months. It will sort them and then send the can to the orbiter hovering above using an ascent craft that would be launched from the top of the lander. The device will catch and secure the container, before transferring it into a storage vessel. The vessel containing the can will then detach from the spacecraft and bring it to Earth, researchers wrote in the journal China Space Science and Technology last month. Also Read: 'Japanese zen gardens' appear on Mars in volcano-filled Tharsis region The can will contain about 600 gm of Martian rocks, as per the mission's chief designer. Mars sample retrieval device The designers tested the device using a prototype to be sure that it worked. It was found to be able to adapt to different entry angles and positions to capture the container. The device also transferred the can into the storage vessel with ease, the researchers wrote. The researchers further wrote that the "traditional docking and transfer mechanisms" are not being used for the mission since the "platform carrying the samples into orbit has a restricted mass capacity" because of the "limited power available for taking off from the Martian surface". They added that the new design "offers advantages over similar Western systems" because of being more integrated and significantly lighter. Senior Chinese space officials announced in September that the mission will bring back samples from the planet’s Utopia Planitia region, or other candidate sites. It will be launched in 2028, while the samples will be retrieved by 2031.

Chinese spacecraft will catch a can of Martian rock samples in space

China is moving ahead with sending a mission to Mars two years earlier than its initial plans. It announced that it is ready to launch Tianwen-3 mission to Mars in 2028. Liu Jizhong, chief designer of China’s Mars mission, said on Thursday that the team is also on track to bring back samples from the red planet.&nbsp;

The announcement was made at the Second International Conference on Deep Space Exploration in Huangshan, Anhui province. Liu stated that they would bring back around 600 grams of Martian soil. Moving the mission up by two years indicates that China is confident of successfully launching the Mars mission. Earlier, it was to send the spacecraft by 2030, but now it will fly away in 2028.&nbsp;

Since the mission will now launch in 2028 instead of 2030, its return with the samples is also likely to move ahead to 2031. This is as per what Tianwen-1 mission lead Sun Zezhou said at the Nanjing University in 2022.

Experts say that if China successfully carries out the exercise, it will become the leader in space exploration. Liu added that searching for signs of life would be the mission's top scientific goal.&nbsp;

Explaining how the mission will work, Liu told the attendees that two Long March 5 rockets would be used to send Tianwen-3 lander-ascender combination and the orbiter-return module combination to Mars.

The technologies being used for the Mars mission include those that were previously a part of the Chang’e-5 and Chang’e-6 moon sample return missions and the Tianwen-1 Mars landing mission, he said.&nbsp;

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Liu also told state news agency Xinhua about the methods that will be implemented to collect the samples once the spacecraft lands on Mars. These would include multi-point surface scooping, fixed-point deep drilling and rover-based sampling,&nbsp;

<h2>What's happening with NASA's Mars Sample Return mission</h2>

The US is still struggling with its plans to send its sample mission to Mars. It has been in jeopardy ever since it was revealed that the return mission would cost up to $11 billion. The timeline was also stretched until 2040. The Mars Sample Return (MSR) mission was supposed to collect samples collected by NASA’s Perseverance rover.

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The space agency has reached out to seven aerospace companies and asked them to come up with ideas to speed up the mission, as well as reduce its costs. NASA wants to bring back the samples in the 2030s.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, India has also announced plans to reach Mars and plans to land a rover and a helicopter. As part of Mangalyaan-2, a supersonic parachute and a sky crane will lower the rover onto the Martian surface.

China is moving ahead with sending a mission to Mars two years earlier than its initial plans. It announced that it is ready to launch Tianwen-3 mission to Mars in 2028.

China is moving ahead with sending a mission to Mars two years earlier than its initial plans. It announced that it is ready to launch Tianwen-3 mission to Mars in 2028. Liu Jizhong, chief designer of China’s Mars mission, said on Thursday that the team is also on track to bring back samples from the red planet. The announcement was made at the Second International Conference on Deep Space Exploration in Huangshan, Anhui province. Liu stated that they would bring back around 600 grams of Martian soil. Moving the mission up by two years indicates that China is confident of successfully launching the Mars mission. Earlier, it was to send the spacecraft by 2030, but now it will fly away in 2028. Since the mission will now launch in 2028 instead of 2030, its return with the samples is also likely to move ahead to 2031. This is as per what Tianwen-1 mission lead Sun Zezhou said at the Nanjing University in 2022. Experts say that if China successfully carries out the exercise, it will become the leader in space exploration. Liu added that searching for signs of life would be the mission's top scientific goal. Explaining how the mission will work, Liu told the attendees that two Long March 5 rockets would be used to send Tianwen-3 lander-ascender combination and the orbiter-return module combination to Mars. The technologies being used for the Mars mission include those that were previously a part of the Chang’e-5 and Chang’e-6 moon sample return missions and the Tianwen-1 Mars landing mission, he said. Also Read: Another Kuiper Belt? Mystery zone spotted at the edge of our solar system Liu also told state news agency Xinhua about the methods that will be implemented to collect the samples once the spacecraft lands on Mars. These would include multi-point surface scooping, fixed-point deep drilling and rover-based sampling, What's happening with NASA's Mars Sample Return mission The US is still struggling with its plans to send its sample mission to Mars. It has been in jeopardy ever since it was revealed that the return mission would cost up to $11 billion. The timeline was also stretched until 2040. The Mars Sample Return (MSR) mission was supposed to collect samples collected by NASA’s Perseverance rover. × The space agency has reached out to seven aerospace companies and asked them to come up with ideas to speed up the mission, as well as reduce its costs. NASA wants to bring back the samples in the 2030s. Meanwhile, India has also announced plans to reach Mars and plans to land a rover and a helicopter. As part of Mangalyaan-2, a supersonic parachute and a sky crane will lower the rover onto the Martian surface.

China Mars Mission ready for 2028 launch, will bring back 600 grams of Martian soil

According to reports, China intends to return Mars samples to Earth in 2031, two years ahead of NASA and European Space Agency's joint project.

China's Tianwen-1 had started sending pictures of Mars in February last year. The rover had begun exploring the red planet in May 2021.

Sun Zezhou who is the chief designer of Tianwen-1, reportedly presented China's ambitious plan during a presentation.

The plan included lifting off to Mars in 2028&nbsp;and after extensive research which includes sampling and drilling, the spacecraft is expected to depart Mars in 2030 and return to Earth in July 2031.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ufo-expert-claims-to-have-spotted-weird-elephant-like-creature-on-mars-489595">Also Read:&nbsp;UFO expert claims to have spotted ‘weird elephant-like creature’ on Mars</a>

China has poured billions of dollars into its space programme. The country is also planning to build a base on the Moon.

Tianwen-1 orbiter is also reportedly set to conduct sample return preparation, Sun revealed. China had earlier conducted lunar sample return in 2020.

Watch:&nbsp;Human trash found on Mars

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Last month three Chinese astronauts arrived at the country's space station as the Communist nation continues its complex space operation. The astronauts had blasted off from the Long March-2F rocket from the Gobi desert.&nbsp;

NASA and the European Space Agency(ESA) had decided to delay their&nbsp;launches to 2028 and said the Mars samples will be possible in 2033 under a revised schedule.

ESA and NASA are also in talks to put the first European on the Moon. The US had banned China from the International Space Station(ISS) in 2011 due to national security concerns.&nbsp;

(With inputs from Agencies)

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According to reports, China intends to return Mars samples to Earth in 2031, two years ahead of NASA and European Space Agency's joint project. China's Tianwen-1 had started sending pictures of Mars in February last year.

According to reports, China intends to return Mars samples to Earth in 2031, two years ahead of NASA and European Space Agency's joint project. China's Tianwen-1 had started sending pictures of Mars in February last year. The rover had begun exploring the red planet in May 2021. Sun Zezhou who is the chief designer of Tianwen-1, reportedly presented China's ambitious plan during a presentation. The plan included lifting off to Mars in 2028 and after extensive research which includes sampling and drilling, the spacecraft is expected to depart Mars in 2030 and return to Earth in July 2031. Also Read: UFO expert claims to have spotted ‘weird elephant-like creature’ on Mars China has poured billions of dollars into its space programme. The country is also planning to build a base on the Moon. Tianwen-1 orbiter is also reportedly set to conduct sample return preparation, Sun revealed. China had earlier conducted lunar sample return in 2020. Watch: Human trash found on Mars Last month three Chinese astronauts arrived at the country's space station as the Communist nation continues its complex space operation. The astronauts had blasted off from the Long March-2F rocket from the Gobi desert. NASA and the European Space Agency(ESA) had decided to delay their launches to 2028 and said the Mars samples will be possible in 2033 under a revised schedule. ESA and NASA are also in talks to put the first European on the Moon. The US had banned China from the International Space Station(ISS) in 2011 due to national security concerns. (With inputs from Agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

China planning to bring Mars sample to Earth before NASA, ESA joint mission

China's National Space Science Center has announced that the country has developed a prototype miniature helicopter for surveillance work on future Mars missions.

The prototype resembles NASA's robotic helicopter Ingenuity in appearance. The US space agency had used it for its Perseverance mission this year.&nbsp;

Like Ingenuity, the Chinese prototype sports two rotor blades, a sensor-and-camera base and four thin legs. But there is no solar panel at the top like Ingenuity.

Also see |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/milestones-chinas-space-dreams-from-ground-zero-upwards-392152">'Milestones': China's space dreams from ground zero upwards</a>

China is planning its first crewed mission to Mars in 2033 and the helicopter could be used as a tool for a follow-up exploration of the Red planet.

China's heavily promoted space programme has already seen the nation land a rover on Mars and send probes to the moon. It is one of the most prestigious of all prizes in the competition for dominion of space.

The United States and Russia are the only other countries to have reached Mars, and only the former has operated a rover on the surface.

Several US, Russian and European attempts to land rovers on Mars have failed in the past, most recently in 2016 with the crash-landing of the Schiaparelli joint Russian-European spacecraft. 
&nbsp;

China's National Space Science Center has announced that the country has developed a prototype miniature helicopter for surveillance work on future Mars missions.

China's National Space Science Center has announced that the country has developed a prototype miniature helicopter for surveillance work on future Mars missions. The prototype resembles NASA's robotic helicopter Ingenuity in appearance. The US space agency had used it for its Perseverance mission this year. Like Ingenuity, the Chinese prototype sports two rotor blades, a sensor-and-camera base and four thin legs. But there is no solar panel at the top like Ingenuity. Also see | 'Milestones': China's space dreams from ground zero upwards China is planning its first crewed mission to Mars in 2033 and the helicopter could be used as a tool for a follow-up exploration of the Red planet. China's heavily promoted space programme has already seen the nation land a rover on Mars and send probes to the moon. It is one of the most prestigious of all prizes in the competition for dominion of space. The United States and Russia are the only other countries to have reached Mars, and only the former has operated a rover on the surface. Several US, Russian and European attempts to land rovers on Mars have failed in the past, most recently in 2016 with the crash-landing of the Schiaparelli joint Russian-European spacecraft.

China builds miniature prototype helicopter for surveillance on Mars

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Chinese spacecraft will catch a can of Martian rock samples in space

China Mars Mission ready for 2028 launch, will bring back 600 grams of Martian soil

China planning to bring Mars sample to Earth before NASA, ESA joint mission

China builds miniature prototype helicopter for surveillance on Mars