China to launch Tianwen-3 Mars sample-return mission

China has set a year to launch its Tianwen-3 Mars sample-return mission, as per the lead of the mission.

The Martian sample-return mission is scheduled for 2028 and will include two launches from the Earth, as per Space News. 

Liu Jizhong, chief designer of Tianwen-3 relayed at a press conference on September 5 that the mission’s top priority is to search for evidence of life on the neighbouring planet.

The landing area for the mission will be selected based on astro-biological relevance including land where there is a potential of life or where it can be preserved.

Researchers have highlighted three landing zones for Tianwen-3 — Amazonis Planitia, Chryse Planitia and Utopia Planitia.

Utopia Planitia is a zone within the Zhurong Tianwen-1 rover landed.

As per Space News, the mission will pose challenges including sampling, launching off of the surface of Mars, rendezvousing the orbit and lastly most importantly, ensuring planetary protection.

The mission will strictly adhere to international agreements on planetary protection, according to CCTV and they emphasise making efforts to avoid littering and contaminating either Mars or Earth on returns.

The historical feat will also include international cooperation, as reported by Xinhua. This relates to areas of payloads, sharing of samples and data, and planning the research for future missions.

China states that the country wants to work with scientists from across the globe to share and study data from Mars.