China's Tianwen 3 Mission Aims to Bring Back Mars Samples by 2031
China's upcoming Tianwen 3 mission, set for launch in late 2028, could potentially bring back samples from Mars' Jezero Crater, where NASA's Perseverance rover is currently active. However, the mission's larger landing ellipse poses challenges in targeting specific areas. Meanwhile, further analysis on Earth is required to confirm the origin of potential biosignatures found by Perseverance.
Tianwen 3 aims to collect and return at least 500 grams of Martian samples by around 2031. Its streamlined approach includes a lander, ascent vehicle, orbiter, and return module, equipped with a drill, robotic arm, and a small drone for sample collection. The mission could achieve this feat earlier than NASA's Mars Sample Return (MSR) mission, despite constraints like less precise landing and sample site differences.
Perseverance has already collected samples, like 'Sapphire Canyon', in tubes for return by the MSR mission. However, if the MSR mission faces delays or cancellation due to budget cuts, NASA may need to consider alternative approaches to retrieve these samples. Tianwen 3 could target Jezero Crater to collect similar samples, but its larger landing ellipse makes it harder to target specific areas. Jezero Crater's floor, around 8,350 feet (2,600 meters) below Martian 'sea level', is less suitable for Tianwen 3's landing. The mission's landing site selection criteria include a latitude between 17 and 30 degrees North and an altitude at least 9,840 feet (3,000 m) below notional sea level.
Tianwen 3's potential to bring back samples from Jezero Crater depends on various factors, including landing precision and the outcome of the MSR mission. Further analysis on Earth is crucial to confirm if the minerals found by Perseverance were produced by microbial metabolism or an abiotic process. As the launch of Tianwen 3 approaches, these aspects remain under close scrutiny.
