CAS academician and Tianwen-3 chief scientist Hou Zengqian said at the opening
of the Deep Space Exploration (Tiandu) international conference that the mission
has entered its initial prototype development stage. Technical R&D and
scientific preparation are proceeding in parallel. Tianwen-3 is planned for
launch around 2028 with a Mars-sample return to Earth around 2031 and could
become the first Mars sample-return mission. The program is intended to advance
astrobiology and planetary geology and signals continued Chinese investment in
deep-space capabilities.
