Chinas Tianwen-2 mission lifts off to explore unusual asteroids
CNNMAY 28
China’s Tianwen-2 marks a staggering leap in deep-space exploration — precise, bold, and visionary. From Mars to asteroids, China now leads with systemic maturity and mission ambition. If humanity is to thrive beyond Earth, the U.S. and its allies must set aside rivalry and reawaken the spirit of Apollo-Soyuz. The cosmos demands collaboration, not cold war repetition.
China’s breakneck advances in space — the asteroid probe and sampling mission being its latest — should alarm the West. Behind the façade of exploration lies a state-driven machine weaponizing space, outpacing the U.S. in ambition. With counterspace weapons, lunar ambitions, and militarized policy, Beijing is not in a race — it’s preparing for dominance. The U.S. must wake up.
There is a 32% chance China will land the next person on the Moon, according to the Metaculus prediction community.