Tianwen-2 will fly by Earth in November 2027 and release its sample return capsule for landing near the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.
The Tianwen-2 sample return capsule is expected to land near the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, which is used for Shenzhou crew returns.
Tianwen-2 will begin an extended mission after releasing its sample return capsule.
Tianwen-2 is expected to release its sample return capsule during an Earth flyby in November 2027.
Tianwen-2 launched in May 2025 from Xichang for a year-long sample-return mission to asteroid 2016 HO3/469219 Kamoʻoalewa with a planned summer 2026 arrival and a sample-return capsule dropping 200–1,000 grams to Earth during a 2029 flyby.
Controllers spent about 36 hours on 2020-10-26–27, 2020 using the robotic arm to move the TAGSAM head into position in the sample return capsule and seal it.