China pushes forward exploration of small celestial bodies

Probing small celestial bodies is a new frontier of space exploration, but with a high threshold. The main difficulties are the uncertainties and the unknown environment of the small bodies. It's hard to learn about their shape, composition, structure, and other features through observation from Earth, Ye said.

Compared with Japan and the United States, which have collected samples by touching asteroids, China has designed multiple sampling methods in its mission, including touch, hovering, and landing, hoping to collect more samples by landing.