China is advancing plans for a landmark planetary defense mission aimed at testing whether a spacecraft can alter the trajectory of a near-Earth object. The project seeks to launch a spacecraft that will collide with a small asteroid located tens of millions of miles away, nudging its orbit by roughly 1.2 to 2 inches. Though modest, such deflection would demonstrate the feasibility of asteroid redirection, making China the second country after the United States to attempt such a feat if conducted within this year.
Beijing Pushes for International Cooperation in Space Defense
The initiative, announced by Wu Weiren, chief designer of China’s lunar exploration program and a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, was revealed during the third Deep Space Exploration (Tiandu) International Conference in Hefei, Anhui province. The mission involves two spacecraft: one designated as an observer and another as an impactor. The observer spacecraft will first approach the asteroid to survey its structure and collect precise physical data. Following this, the impactor will strike the asteroid at high velocity while the observer, aided by ground- and space-based telescopes, records the collision using advanced imaging systems.
Wu also outlined China’s broader vision for a planetary defense system that integrates early warning, in-orbit response, and comprehensive preparedness against potential asteroid threats. At the core of this strategy lies kinetic impact, reinforced by supporting technologies to maximize effectiveness. He further emphasized China’s willingness to engage in international collaboration, including data sharing, with the goal of building a unified global asteroid defense framework.
Rising Asteroid Discoveries Highlight Urgency of Planetary Defense
Asteroids hold a dual significance: they are both valuable resources, containing metals like iron, nickel, and platinum group elements, and potential existential dangers. With advances in observation technology, NASA reported by June 2021 the identification of 26,115 near-Earth asteroids, including 2,185 classified as hazardous. China’s mission builds on this growing awareness, following NASA’s pioneering 2022 planetary defense test.
Summary:
China is preparing a planetary defense mission to test asteroid redirection by colliding an impactor spacecraft with a small asteroid, observed by a companion probe. Aiming for deflection of up to two inches, the project highlights China’s broader defense vision, international cooperation, and urgency amid rising asteroid discoveries and existential threats.
