Celestial researchers have published a new paper in the Chinese Journal of Astronautics that recommends focusing on low-cost and frequent missions to retrieve soil samples from asteroids.

The paper argues that China urgently needs to expand its asteroid research and points to vast untapped potential for revolutionary discoveries and technological innovations. According to experts, the best strategy should be to collect soil samples from different types of asteroids. These studies could provide new insights into the early stages of solar system development and possibly the origins of life.

The researchers also emphasized that the development of innovative technologies in the field of creating special spacecraft can lay the foundation for the future use of space resources and planetary protection.

Recently, the Chinese delegation at the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) stated that the PRC considers the use of space resources permissible. Perhaps the time when asteroid mining will begin is not far off.