News Snapshot:
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...
