China to launch Tianwen-3 Mars sample return mission in 2028, return samples in 2031

September 12, 2026 at 05:25 PM2 min

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China's Tianwen-3 mission is scheduled to launch to Mars in 2028 and return rock and soil samples to Earth in 2031, chief scientist Hou Zengqian confirmed in state media. The mission uses a stationary lander that drills and launches samples directly into orbit, avoiding the multi-stage retrieval required by NASA's cancelled Mars Sample Return program. The U.S. project was cut from NASA funding despite Perseverance rover having collected samples since 2021.

Key Facts

China's Tianwen-3 mission is scheduled to launch two Long March 5 rockets in 2028, one carrying a lander and the other an orbiter.
The lander will drill seven feet into the Martian surface and collect approximately 18 ounces of material.
NASA's Mars Sample Return program was cancelled after cost estimates reached between $7 billion and $11 billion.
The NASA Authorization Act of 2026 would allocate $8 billion to the Mars Sample Return mission if passed.
Lockheed Martin offered to conduct the Mars Sample Return mission for $3 billion.

Tianwen-3 Mission Design

Tianwen-3 will use two Long March 5 rockets launched in 2028, with one carrying a stationary lander and the other an orbiter. After a three-year voyage, the lander will drill seven feet into the surface, collect about 18 ounces of material, and launch it into Mars orbit. The orbiter will capture the sample container and return it to Earth in 2031. Total mission time after landing is approximately two months, according to chief scientist Hou Zengqian.

NASA Mars Sample Return Cancellation

NASA's Mars Sample Return program was cancelled after cost estimates ballooned to between $7 billion and $11 billion. Lockheed Martin proposed a simplified mission costing $3 billion, but the project was not saved from President Donald Trump's proposed cuts. The Perseverance rover has collected samples on the Martian surface since 2021, but no retrieval mission is currently funded. The NASA Authorization Act of 2026, if passed, would allocate $8 billion to the Mars Sample Return mission.