Mars and Planetary Missions: Rovers, Probes, Sample Return — 2026-09-12
China’s Tianwen-3 Mars sample-return mission is confirmed on track for a 2028 launch, intensifying the race against NASA’s stalled Mars Sample Return (MSR) program. Meanwhile, the ESA-JAXA BepiColombo mission successfully separated its transfer module to begin its final high-risk approach to Mercury.
Mars and Planetary Missions: Rovers, Probes, Sample Return — 2026-09-12
Top developments
China’s Tianwen-3 on Track for 2028 Launch
China is progressing steadily with its Tianwen-3 Mars sample-return mission, which aims to launch in 2028 and return at least 500 grams of Martian material to Earth by 2031. The mission involves a complex two-launch plan requiring a Mars ascent vehicle, autonomous orbital capture, and a sealed interplanetary return capsule. If successful, this would make China the first nation to return samples from Mars, a feat NASA’s MSR program has not yet achieved due to budget and technical hurdles.
BepiColombo Begins Final Descent to Mercury
On September 3, 2026, the BepiColombo spacecraft successfully separated from its Mercury Transfer Module (MTM) after an eight-year journey covering nearly 10 billion kilometers. This maneuver marks the beginning of the final approach to Mercury, where the ESA’s Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO) and JAXA’s Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter (Mio) will enter their respective orbits. The separation is described by the ESA as a "new launch" due to the high risks involved in navigating the sun-scorched planet's gravity well.
Perseverance Rover Continues Sample Collection
NASA’s Perseverance rover was observed working on a rock on Mars as recently as September 10, 2026 (Sol 1975). Despite the uncertainty surrounding the MSR program, Perseverance continues to cache samples that hold potential signs of ancient life, waiting for a retrieval mission that may now compete with or be complemented by international efforts.
Local view
French media outlets have focused heavily on the technical complexity of the BepiColombo mission’s recent milestones. Le Monde highlighted the "high-risk" nature of the double-probe separation, emphasizing the collaborative effort between ESA and JAXA. Franceinfo noted that the mission aims to unravel the mysteries of Mercury’s origin, describing the upcoming orbital insertion as a "cosmic ballet" of immense complexity.
Context & numbers
- Tianwen-3 Return Mass: At least 500 grams of Martian soil and rock.
- BepiColombo Distance Traveled: Approximately 9.9 billion kilometers over eight years.
- MSR Status: No sample deliberately collected on Mars has ever been examined in an Earth laboratory; the NASA-ESA MSR plan approved in 2022 targeted a return around 2033 but faces significant budgetary scrutiny.
On the radar
- BepiColombo Orbital Insertion: Watch for the final orbital insertion maneuvers of MPO and Mio later in September/October 2026 following the successful MTM separation.
- Tianwen-3 Hardware Testing: Continued updates on the testing of the ascent vehicle and Earth re-entry capsule for the 2028 launch window.
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