China Sets Ambitious 2028 Target for Historic Mars Sample Return Mission

China’s plan to bring samples from Mars to Earth could launch as early as 2028, advancing its ambitious space program. Liu Jizhong, the chief designer for the Tianwen-3 mission, recently announced the updated timeline at a deep-space exploration event, accelerating the goal from the previous 2030 target. The mission would involve two launches aimed at retrieving Martian samples, with the goal of returning them to Earth by 2031.

This accelerated mission plan follows China’s recent achievement of retrieving samples from the far side of the moon and positions the nation in a competitive race with NASA and the European Space Agency. While the U.S. space agencies are still assessing plans for their own Mars sample return, which is facing delays and budget concerns, China aims to establish itself as a dominant space power under President Xi Jinping’s vision.

China’s Tianwen-3 mission will focus on searching for signs of life on Mars and overcoming significant technical challenges, including launching a small rocket from the Martian surface for the return journey. International cooperation will also be a key aspect of the mission, involving payloads and data sharing with other countries.

China’s space achievements have grown in prominence, particularly after its Tianwen-1 probe successfully landed the Zhurong rover on Mars in 2021. Zhurong exceeded expectations by operating far longer than its planned mission duration and delivering valuable data about Mars’ past environment, including evidence that water once existed on the planet.