The Tianwen-2 spacecraft arrived at Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan province, southwest China, Feb. 20, according to a statement from the China National Space Administration (CNSA).

CNSA stated vaguely that the launch is scheduled to be carried out in the first half of this year. The mission was previously stated by officials to launch around May 2025 on a Long March 3B rocket.

Tianwen-2 will first target near-Earth asteroid Kamoʻoalewa (2016 HO3), considered a quasi-satellite of Earth due to its co-orbital dynamics. It aims to collect samples from the roughly 40 to 100-meter-diameter asteroid and deliver them to Earth around 2027. Kamoʻoalewa is possibly a chunk of the moon blasted into space following an impact event, according to researchers.

The main spacecraft will then head for main-belt comet 311P/PANSTARRS, which has asteroid-like orbital characteristics but also features comet-like activity.