Tianwen-2 mission to investigate Kamoʻoalewa's origins

China's Tianwen-2 mission is set to analyze asteroid Kamoʻoalewa, potentially resolving its origin as lunar or asteroid belt material. The spacecraft will rendezvous with the Earth quasi-satellite in 2026 to collect samples. New research suggests Kamoʻoalewa's red hue may be due to space weathering, not lunar origin. Kamoʻoalewa, discovered in 2016, is a rare object that orbits the Sun while linked to Earth. Tianwen-2's findings could significantly impact understanding of near-Earth objects.