The Tianwen-3 mission is planned to carry Mars samples back to Earth around 2031.

China’s planetary exploration project Tianwen-3 is planned to be launched around 2028 and return samples from Mars to Earth around 2031.
This information was learned by reporters on April 24 at the launch ceremony of the 11th “China Space Day” main event.
On that day, the China National Space Administration officially announced the selection results of the Tianwen-3 mission cooperation projects—
The orbiter will carry three cooperative payloads, namely:
The Mars PEX spectrometer developed by the Exploration Working Group of the International Space Research Committee, used for searching for signs of life on Mars and surface mineral composition detection;
The Mars molecular ion analyzer developed by the University of Macau, used for studying the Mars atmospheric escape process;
The laser heterodyne spectrometer developed by the Chinese University of Hong Kong, used for profiling the distribution of water isotopes in the Martian atmosphere and detecting Martian wind fields.
The lander will carry a Mars surface high spectral imaging instrument led by the University of Hong Kong, used for detecting signs of life, water-bearing minerals, and resource surveys.
The lander will also carry a laser corner reflector array developed by the Frascati National Laboratory of the Italian National Institute for Nuclear Physics, used to establish precise reference points on the Martian surface.
Since the China National Space Administration issued a cooperation opportunity announcement in April 2025, a total of 28 cooperation intentions have been received.
Based on the selection principles of “high scientific value, strong support for the mission, strong engineering feasibility, and high technological maturity,” five cooperation projects were ultimately selected. (Xinhua News Agency)