China to probe asteroids before 2025

Near-Earth asteroids [Photo: baike.com]

China is planning to probe near-Earth asteroids no later than 2025, after the country's first mission to Mars set to complete in 2020, according to Ye Peijian, the consultant for the Martian probe system at the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.

Ye said potential targets and how the probes would work are still under discussion by scientists.

He said probing asteroids was of great significance.

Asteroids are the legacy of the solar system's formation 4.5 billion years ago. Collecting samples from such planetoids and analyzing their structure will help scientists understand how the solar system was formed and how life on Earth evolved.

Ye said 9,000 near-Earth asteroids have been identified so far, many of which are rich in minerals including gold and platinum and so could become the next source of minerals for mankind.

China is hoping to explore Mars for a second time around 2030, aiming to collect samples of the planet's surface for further study into the make-up and environment of Mars.

An exploration of Jupiter is also on agenda for the future.

Along with asteroid probe missions, Ye said, future projects may see aircraft launched into space and travelling farther than Jupiter.