China has taken a major step in deep space exploration with the launch of Tianwen-2, aiming to become the third nation to return samples from an asteroid.
China launched its Tianwen-2 spacecraft early Wednesday in a landmark mission to retrieve samples from a near-Earth asteroid, 469219 Kamoʻoalewa. The Long March 3B rocket carrying the probe lifted off at around 1:31 a.m. local time from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China. State media Xinhua confirmed the launch as a "complete success."
The robotic spacecraft is expected to approach the small asteroid—located about 10 million miles from Earth—over the next year, reaching its destination by July 2026. Tianwen-2 will collect rock samples and return them to Earth via capsule in November 2027.
This mission underscores China’s rapidly advancing space ambitions. In recent years, China has landed robotic missions on the far side of the moon, launched and operated its own space station, and is preparing to send astronauts to the lunar surface by 2030.
If successful, China will become the third country to recover asteroid samples. Japan pioneered such missions with Hayabusa in 2010 and Hayabusa2 in 2019. The United States followed with its OSIRIS-REx mission, which retrieved samples from asteroid Bennu in 2020.
Kamoʻoalewa, Tianwen-2’s target, is classified as a quasi-satellite of Earth—an object that follows a similar orbit around the sun. NASA estimates its size to range from 40 to 100 metres. Scientists hope the mission will offer insights into the early solar system and the origins of water and life on Earth.
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China is set to eliminate tariffs for all 53 African countries it has diplomatic ties with, offering duty-free access not just to the poorest nations but also to middle-income economies.
The European Union and Britain reached a landmark agreement Wednesday to ease border crossings in Gibraltar, ending years of uncertainty over the territory’s post-Brexit status.
Forced displacement worldwide has hit a record 122.1 million, driven by conflicts in Sudan, Ukraine, and beyond, as humanitarian needs soar.
Thousands gathered for a sixth straight night of protests in downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday, condemning President Donald Trump’s immigration raids as federal forces remain deployed in the city.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for June 8th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
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A 30-year-old woman was shot by police in Munich on Saturday evening after stabbing two people at Theresienwiese, a central park best known for hosting Oktoberfest.
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The National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) has announced a landmark shift in its electoral process, declaring that the general elections scheduled for mid-2026 will be conducted using a fully digital system.
Prime Minister Petteri Orpo has announced Finland's ambition to host a European AI gigafactory. The move aims to boost national growth by building on the success of the LUMI supercomputer, with telecommunications giant Nokia poised to lead the project's business consortium.
British scientists have built more than 3,800 digital replicas of human hearts using AI and clinical data, aiming to revolutionize diagnosis, correct medical bias, and improve patient care.
Rolls-Royce SMR has been named the preferred bidder to develop the UK's first small modular reactors (SMRs) in partnership with the newly renamed Great British Energy – Nuclear. The project aims to bolster the UK's clean energy supply and energy independence.
Microsoft has officially revealed its long-anticipated handheld gaming console, the ROG Xbox Ally, developed in partnership with Asus. This new device aims to provide access to Xbox Game Pass libraries in a portable format, with its release scheduled for the end of 2025.
China is set to eliminate tariffs for all 53 African countries it has diplomatic ties with, offering duty-free access not just to the poorest nations but also to middle-income economies.
The European Union and Britain reached a landmark agreement Wednesday to ease border crossings in Gibraltar, ending years of uncertainty over the territory’s post-Brexit status.
Forced displacement worldwide has hit a record 122.1 million, driven by conflicts in Sudan, Ukraine, and beyond, as humanitarian needs soar.
Thousands gathered for a sixth straight night of protests in downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday, condemning President Donald Trump’s immigration raids as federal forces remain deployed in the city.
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