China planning drone with robotic arm for Mars sample hunt, eyeing bio-safety

China’s Tianwen-3 mission, planned for launch in 2028 atop two Long March 5B rockets, aims to return Martian soil and rock samples to Earth by 2031, collecting at least 500 grams of material. A key innovation in this mission is the deployment of an uncrewed helicopter drone equipped with a robotic arm and claw, designed to fly up to 100 meters from the lander to retrieve larger, scientifically valuable rocks that may contain biosignatures. The lander itself will use a robotic arm to scoop surface material and a drill capable of extracting samples from depths of up to 2 meters, targeting areas potentially shielded from harsh surface radiation. This approach enhances sample diversity from a single landing site and marks China’s first use of a drone in planetary exploration. Given the mission’s focus on searching for signs of past or present life on Mars, the Chinese team is prioritizing bio-safety and planetary protection. They are developing a comprehensive sample preservation and analysis