Editing Chinese space program (section)

==== Deep Space Exploration Program ====
{{see also|Planetary Exploration of China}}
China's first deep space probe, the [[Yinghuo-1]] orbiter, was launched in November 2011 along with the joint [[Fobos-Grunt]] mission with Russia, but the rocket failed to leave Earth orbit and both probes underwent destructive re-entry on 15 January 2012.<ref>{{cite news|title=Russian Mars Spacecraft Reentry Imminent|date=January 15, 2012|publisher=NBC News|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna46003874|access-date=May 15, 2023}}</ref>

In 2018, Chinese researchers proposed a deep space exploration roadmap to explore Mars, an asteroid, Jupiter, and further targets, within the 2020–2030 timeframe.<ref name="Planning2030">{{cite journal |last1=Xu |first1=Lin |last2=Zou |first2=Yongliao |last3=Jia |first3=Yingzhuo |url=http://epizodsspace.airbase.ru/bibl/inostr-yazyki/Chinese_Journal_of_Space_Science/2018/5/Xu_et_al_China's_Planning_---_before_2030_Chin_J_Space_Sci_38_(2018).pdf |title= China's planning for deep space exploration and lunar exploration before 2030 |journal=Chinese Journal of Space Science |date=2018 |volume=38 |issue=5 |pages=591–592 |doi=10.11728/cjss2018.05.591|bibcode=2018ChJSS..38..591X |s2cid=256881663 }}</ref><ref name="2018UNOOSA">{{Citation |last1=Wang |first1=F. |contribution-url=http://www.unoosa.org/documents/pdf/copuos/2018/copuos2018tech19E.pdf |contribution=China's Cooperation Plan on Lunar and Deep Space Exploration |title=Sixty-first session (2018) of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space |publisher=[[United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs|UNOOSA]] |date=27 June 2018 |access-date=23 January 2019}}.</ref> Current and upcoming robotic missions include:
* '''[[Chinese Deep Space Network]]''' relay satellites, for deep-space communication and exploration support network.
* '''[[Tianwen-1]]''', launched on 23 July 2020 with arrival at Mars on 10 February 2021. Mission includes an orbiter, a deployable and remote camera, a lander, and the [[Zhurong (rover)|''Zhurong'' rover]].<ref name="Planning2030" />
* '''[[Tianwen-2]]''', formerly ''ZhengHe'', launched on 29 May 2025. Mission goals include asteroid [[Planetary flyby|flyby observations]], [[Remote sensing|global remote sensing]], [[Lander (spacecraft)|robotic landing]], and [[Sample-return mission|sample return]].<ref name="Planning2030" /> ''Tianwen-2'' is now in active development.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Andrew Jones published |date=2022-05-18 |title=China to launch Tianwen 2 asteroid-sampling mission in 2025 |url=https://www.space.com/china-tianwen2-asteroid-sampling-mission-2025-launch |access-date=2022-09-29 |website=Space.com |language=en}}</ref>
* '''[[Interstellar Express]]''', targeting for launch around 2024–2025 for ''Interstellar Heliosphere Probe-1'' (IHP-1) and around 2025–2026 for ''Interstellar Heliosphere Probe-2'' (IHP-2). Mission objectives include exploration of the heliosphere and interstellar space.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Jones |first1=Andrew |title=China to launch a pair of spacecraft towards the edge of the solar system |url=https://spacenews.com/china-to-launch-a-pair-of-spacecraft-towards-the-edge-of-the-solar-system/ |access-date=29 April 2021 |work=SpaceNews |date=16 April 2021}}</ref> Also to become the first non-NASA probes to [[List of artificial objects leaving the Solar System|leave the Solar System]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Song |first1=Jianlan |title="Interstellar Express": A Possible Successor of Voyagers |url=http://www.bcas.cas.cn/infocus/201911/t20191111_223051.html |website=InFocus |publisher=Chinese Academy of Sciences |access-date=29 April 2021}}</ref>
* '''[[Tianwen-3|Mars Sample Return Mission]]''', planned for launch around 2028–2030.<ref name="2018UNOOSA" /><ref name="gbtimes20170714">{{cite web |last1=Jones |first1=Andrew |url=https://gbtimes.com/mars-asteroids-ganymede-and-uranus-chinas-deep-space-exploration-plan-2030-and-beyond |title=Mars, asteroids, Ganymede and Uranus: China's deep space exploration plan to 2030 and beyond |website=GBTimes |date=14 July 2017 |access-date=23 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190124102115/https://gbtimes.com/mars-asteroids-ganymede-and-uranus-chinas-deep-space-exploration-plan-2030-and-beyond |archive-date=January 24, 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Mission goals include [[In situ#Space-related|in-situ]] topography and soil composition analysis, deep interior investigations to probe the planet's origins and geologic evolution, and sample return.<ref name="Planning2030" /> As of December 2019, the plan is for two launches to be conducted during the November 2028 Earth-to-Mars launch window: a sample collection lander with Mars ascent vehicle on a [[Long March 3B]], and an Earth Return Orbiter on a [[Long March 5]], with samples returning to Earth in September 2031. Earlier plans implemented the mission in a single launch using the [[Long March 9]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jones |first1=Andrew |url=https://www.planetary.org/blogs/guest-blogs/2017/20171219-china-mars-sample-return-plans.html |title=A closer look at China's audacious Mars sample return plans |work=[[The Planetary Society]] |date=19 December 2019 |access-date=13 December 2019}}</ref>
* '''[[Tianwen-4|Jupiter System orbiter]]''', mission goals include orbital [[exploration of Jupiter]] and its [[Galilean moons|four largest moons]] (with a focus on [[Callisto (moon)|Callisto]] by orbiting this Jovian moon), study of the [[magnetohydrodynamics]] in the Jupiter system, and investigation of the internal composition of Jupiter's atmosphere and moons,<ref name="Planning2030" /><ref name="gbtimes20170714" />
* A '''[[Tianwen-4|fly-by of Uranus]]''' is planned as part of the 2029-2030 [[Tianwen-4]] mission. The Uranus fly-by probe will detach from the Jupiter orbiter while in interplanetary space and proceed to a separate encounter with Uranus during the 2040s.