China on Track to Launch Mars Sample-Return Mission in 2028

China is moving forward with a bold space mission called Tianwen 3, which aims to collect rocks and soil from Mars and bring them back to Earth. The mission is planned to launch in 2028 and return its samples around 2031. Scientists hope those samples could answer one of humanity's biggest questions: Has life ever existed on Mars?

The China National Space Administration says Tianwen 3 will include several spacecraft working together. These include a lander to touch down on Mars, an ascender to lift the samples off the surface, an orbiter to circle the planet, and a capsule to carry everything safely back to Earth. If the plan works, the mission will bring back about 500 grams — roughly the weight of a can of soup — of Martian material.

The mission's chief scientist, Hou Zengqian, recently told Chinese state television that things are going well. 'The Tianwen 3 mission is progressing smoothly, with intensified efforts being made to overcome technical challenges,' Hou said. He also noted that science teams from all across China are working together to meet the mission's goals. Engineers are already building and testing early versions of the spacecraft's equipment.

Meanwhile, the United States space agency NASA does not have a clear plan yet for bringing Mars samples back to Earth. That puts China ahead in this important space race. Former NASA official Scott Hubbard compared China's progress to the Sputnik moment — the shock felt around the world in 1957 when the Soviet Union launched the first satellite into space. 'China will not only grab the headlines but may be the first to find evidence of life on another planet,' Hubbard said.

The main scientific goal of Tianwen 3 is to search for signs of life on Mars. Hou said the mission will look for traces of tiny microbes, similar to the earliest forms of life that appeared on Earth long ago. Scientists will also keep an open mind about unknown life forms that could have developed in Mars's unique environment. 'Regardless of whether signs of life are found, the returned Martian samples will have irreplaceable scientific value,' Hou said.

China plans to choose the exact landing spot on Mars by the end of 2026. Scientists are studying maps of Mars and looking for areas where water may have flowed in the past. They are also looking for places where signs of ancient life might still be preserved in the rocks. A next-generation geological map of the entire planet is being created to help with this decision.

To bring the samples safely back to Earth, China is building a special 'planetary protection laboratory' in a city called Hefei. This lab will make sure that Martian material does not harm Earth's environment, and that Earth germs do not contaminate the samples. The facility will handle tasks like sterilizing containers, carefully opening samples, and checking for any biological risks. China says it will follow international rules to protect both Mars and Earth from cross-contamination.