Martian Dust Storm Spatial‐Temporal Analysis of Tentative Landing Areas for China's Tianwen‐3 Mars Mission.

China's first Mars sampling return mission (Tianwen‐3) is designed to launch and retrieve samples around 2030. Three tentative landing areas (TLAs) (Amazonis, Chryse and Utopia Planitiae, i.e., TLA‐A, TLA‐C and TLA‐U) are selected based on elevation <−2,000 m and latitude between 17° and 30°N. As a dominant feature of Martian meteorology, dust storms manifest in all seasons and affect the accuracy and safety of Mars exploration missions. Tianwen‐3's landing, sampling and ascent phases are in the dust storm season. Therefore, analyzing dust storm activity around landing areas is significant for the Tianwen‐3 mission. According to Mars Daily Global Maps taken by Mars Orbiter Camera spanning Martian years 24–28, 2,476 dust storm events around the three TLAs were identified in this research. Dust storm temporal probabilities within TLA‐A, TLA‐C and TLA‐U were calculated as 0%–44.69%, 0%–66.29% and 0%–33.64%, separately. Dust storm spatial probabilities around the TLA‐A, TLA‐C and TLA‐U were computed, with ranges of 0%–10.71%, 0%–14.55% and 0%–19.96% during the T1 period (Ls = 161–309°), and 0%–6.75%, 0%–7.65% and 0%–8.26% during the T2 period (Ls = 342‐55°), respectively. Finally, considering the temporal and spatial distribution of dust storms, we recommend the T2 period as the launch scenario. Three safe periods (Ls = 2–18°, 4–12°, and 356–4°) were assigned for the entry‐descent‐landing (EDL) phase, along with one period (Ls = 45–55°) for the take‐off and ascent phase. Five circular landing zones with dust storm spatial probability <3% were selected for the Tianwen‐3 mission. Plain Language Summary: Tianwen‐3 is the first Mars sampling return mission by China, scheduled to launch and return samples around 2030. Three tentative landing areas (TLAs), Amazonis Planitia (TLA‐A), Chryse Planitia (TLA‐C), and Utopia Planitia (TLA‐U), located at elevations of <−2,000 m and within the latitude range of 17°–30°N. Three TLAs are situated along the trajectories of Martian dust storm sequences. The harsh dusty conditions significantly impact the success of the Mars exploration mission. Therefore, it is meaningful to analyze the dust storm occurrence probability within and around three TLAs. In this study, we utilized Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Daily Global Maps to (a) detect the dust storm events around three TLAs in five consecutive Mars years (MY 24–28); (b) calculate and analyze the temporal and spatial probabilities of dust storm occurrence; and (c) designate the safe landing areas, the preferred take‐off and ascent and entry‐descent‐landing (EDL) periods for the Tianwen‐3 mission. Key Points: Dust storms within three tentative landing areas exhibit distinct seasonality and heterogeneity throughout a Mars year, with clear solstitial pause periodsDust storm spatial‐temporal analysis reveals that the T2 period is more suitable as the launch scenario for the Tianwen‐3The preferred entry‐descent‐landing period, preferred take‐off and ascent period, and safe landing areas are chosen for the Tianwen‐3 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]