On the 18th May 2025 pre launch CNSA _China National Space Administration -China – People’s Republic of China Hong Kong –Beijing Time China- People’s Republic of China…. at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, Sichuan Province of the Xichang Launch Center, the Long March 3B carrier rocket was According to the National Space Administration; On May 18, the planetary exploration project Tianwen-2 probe successfully moved to the launch area after completing the technical area assembly, testing, and refueling work at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center as planned. It will subsequently carry out various functional inspections and joint tests as planned, and is scheduled to be launched at an appropriate time at the end of May. Prior to this, the Long March 3B Yao-110 carrier rocket that carried out the Tianwen-2 launch mission successfully moved from the technical area to the launch area on May 14 , and completed the hoisting and docking work.
[天问二号 Tianwen-2 is scheduled to be launched at an appropriate time at the end of May]
[The Tianwen-2 probe has successfully moved into the launch area and is scheduled to be launched at an appropriate time at the end of May]
According to the National Space Administration, on May 18, the Tianwen-2 probe of the planetary exploration project successfully moved into the launch area after completing the general assembly, testing, and refuelling in the technical area at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center as planned. Subsequently, various functional inspections, joint tests, and other work will be carried out as planned, and the launch is scheduled to be carried out at an appropriate time at the end of May. The Tianwen-2 mission will carry out multiple tasks in a single launch, including accompanying the asteroid 2016HO3, sampling, and return, and accompanying the main-belt comet 311P.
System composition Overall Design
The Tianwen-2 probe consists of a main probe and a return capsule. The main power supply system of the main probe is a uniquely constructed circular flexible solar wing that resembles a large umbrella. Researchers chose this special configuration of “protective umbrella” to reduce the risk of traditional solar wings touching the ground during the probe’s soft landing. Tianwen-2 adopts a double-wing structure, with a single wing area of 17 square meters. One of the reasons why it carries such a large solar wing is that the mission goal is ambitious. After Tianwen-2 completes the asteroid sampling and return mission, the main probe is likely to continue to fly into deep space. During this process, the amount of sunlight obtained will become less and less, so the solar wing needs to be specially enlarged.
Solar panels are truly “protective umbrellas” that continuously convert solar energy into electricity for continuous use by spacecraft during deep space exploration. As we all know, a large amount of uninterrupted solar energy diffuses in the space environment, just like WiFi wireless chargers, which are most popular with spacecraft. Since a single solar cell generally cannot meet the demand, a power generation device composed of solar cells and related structures connected in series or parallel is a solar cell array, which is like a “nutritionist” for spacecraft, constantly “cooking” solar energy into a “nutritional meal” that can be directly absorbed by various devices
Prior to this, the Long March 3B Yao-110 carrier rocket that carried out the Tianwen-2 launch mission successfully moved from the technical area to the launch area on May 14, and completed the hoisting, docking, and other work.
Images and visuals are from their Respectives CMS China Manned SpaceCNSA-China National Space Administration