China and Japan Reveal Rare Close-Up Images of Near-Earth Asteroids

In a remarkable coincidence, China and Japan's space agencies recently released close-up images of two distinct near-Earth asteroids captured within days of each other. China's Tianwen-2 spacecraft photographed the asteroid Kamo'oalewa, often called Earth's "mini-moon," from about 20 kilometers away. This small body, roughly 15 to 20 meters in diameter, orbits the Sun but remains near Earth for extended periods, a characteristic of "quasi-satellites." Some scientists speculate it may be a fragment from the Moon caused by a massive impact. Launched in May 2025, Tianwen-2 traveled nearly a billion kilometers to reach Kamo'oalewa and plans to continue studying its structure and composition, aiming to collect samples for return to Earth in 2027.

Meanwhile, Japan's Hayabusa2 spacecraft conducted a close flyby of the asteroid Torifune on July 5, passing just 800 meters away. The images reveal a unique snowman-like shape composed of two connected lobes with rough, rocky surfaces. Torifune measures about 450 meters in length. The Japanese space agency highlighted that this flyby served as a critical technological test for future planetary defense missions designed to divert hazardous asteroids. Navigating the small, dark asteroid posed significant challenges for remote identification. Hayabusa2, which previously returned samples from asteroid Ryugu in 2020, is scheduled to visit the tiny asteroid 1998 KY26 in 2031.

Looking ahead, Tianwen-2 will embark on another ambitious mission to a comet in the asteroid belt, expected to arrive in 2035. Scientists emphasize that these missions mark significant progress in understanding the origins of the solar system and developing planetary defense capabilities.