China is conducting a groundbreaking test mission aimed at deflecting a small asteroid from its trajectory by 2030, a new paper by the China National Space Administration (CNSA) confirmed.
Our planet is struck by outer space objects up to 50 times a day, though most are merely the size of grains of sand. However, on rare occasions, significantly larger objects strike, with the potential to cause catastrophic damage. The 2013 meteor explosion over Chelyabinsk, Russia, unleashed a force equivalent to a 500-kiloton nuclear bomb, damaging buildings and shattering windows. Even more dramatically, in 1908, an asteroid exploded over Tunguska, Siberia, with an estimated force of up to 50 megatons.
The humanity has been lucky but relying on luck isn’t a good long-term strategy. So, there is growing interest in identifying, tracking, and potentially deflecting hazardous asteroids before they pose a real threat.
In a paper published in the Journal of Deep Space Exploration, the CNSA details its ambitious mission to demonstrate China’s capability to deflect an asteroid. The target is a near-Earth object (NEO) called 2015 XF261, which measures approximately 100 feet (30 meters) in diameter and passed within 31 million miles (50 million kilometers) of Earth on June 9, 2024.
The mission’s goal extends beyond deflection; it also aims to thoroughly analyze the asteroid’s shape, size, composition, and structure. This will be achieved using an array of instruments, including spectral and laser 3D detectors, mid-field color cameras, detection radars, and dust particle analyzers.
Upon reaching the asteroid in 2030, the spacecraft will conduct detailed observations over three to six months. Following this, a kinetic impactor will be launched to strike the asteroid. The spacecraft will then remain in orbit for an additional six to 12 months to measure the impact’s effects.
By doing this, China aims to safeguard Earth from potential asteroid impacts, demonstrating a proactive approach to mitigating one of space’s natural threats.