Chinese Tianwen-2 beams first image of Earth's mini moon

Tianwen-2 has sent its first image of Kamo‘oalewa, a near-Earth asteroid dubbed Earth’s “mini moon.” The Chinese spacecraft launched in May 2025 and traveled 621 million miles over 400 days to reach the space rock. Kamo‘oalewa orbits the sun but stays near Earth, looping as close as 9 million miles and as far as 25 million miles from the planet. Scientists call such objects “quasi moons,” though some theories suggest Kamo‘oalewa might be a fragment of the moon ejected by an ancient impact. Other data, including observations from the James Webb Space Telescope, challenge that idea.

The asteroid is about 20 meters wide—roughly the size of a school bus—and rotates every 28 minutes. Tianwen-2’s mission includes collecting samples using three methods: a touch-and-go technique similar to NASA’s OSIRIS-REx, an anchor-and-attach method where the spacecraft physically attaches to the asteroid, or a hovering method with a robotic arm scooping surface material. China National Space Administration (CNSA) reported the probe reached 12 miles from Kamo‘oalewa in late June. The agency said it will gather data on the asteroid’s shape, composition, and internal structure to prepare for sample collection.

Sample return is scheduled for 2027, with the spacecraft dropping samples into Earth’s atmosphere during a flyby. After that, Tianwen-2 will head to comet 311P/PanSTARRS for further studies. The mission builds on earlier efforts like Japan’s Hayabusa-2 and NASA’s OSIRIS-REx, which returned asteroid samples to Earth. Kamo‘oalewa’s unique orbit makes it a rare target. Astronomers have identified eight similar quasi-satellites, but none have been studied up close before. Understanding these objects could help scientists track potential hazards or learn more about the moon’s history.

The spacecraft’s journey highlights China’s expanding role in deep-space exploration. Tianwen-2’s equipment is designed to adapt to unpredictable conditions on Kamo‘oalewa’s surface. CNSA emphasized the importance of detailed scientific exploration before collecting samples. The mission’s success could influence future efforts to study other quasi-moons, which may hold clues about the solar system’s formation. Researchers are particularly interested in whether Kamo‘oalewa’s composition matches lunar material, a question that could take years to resolve.

Some scientists see Kamo‘oalewa as a natural laboratory for studying how objects interact with Earth’s gravity. Others caution that the asteroid’s surface might be unstable, complicating sample collection. Tianwen-2’s imaging will help assess risks before any attempt to gather material. The mission’s timeline includes a 2027 return, but delays could happen due to technical challenges or unexpected findings. Regardless, the first image marks a key step in a decades-long effort to explore objects that orbit Earth without being true satellites.