China Intends to Return Mars Samples to Earth Before NASA, ESA

China’s Mars sample return mission aims to deliver samples from the Red Planet to Earth in 2031—two years ahead of a NASA and ESA joint project. Tianwen-1 chief designer Sun Zezhou this week revealed plans for a two-launch profile, lifting off in late 2028 and delivering samples to Earth in July 2031. China’s mission, dubbed Tianwen-3, will consist of a lander and ascent vehicle, as well as an orbiter and return module, according to SpaceNews . Each combination will launch separately, resulting in a single Mars landing in September 2029. If successful, it would deliver to Earth the first collected…