China has launched a planetary defense team to address the potential threat of asteroid 2024 YR4, which has a 2.2% chance of impact in 2032. Led by SASTIND, the initiative focuses on asteroid tracking and impact prevention, marking China's growing role in global space defense efforts.
China has announced the creation of a planetary defense team as concerns rise over the potential threat posed by asteroid 2024 YR4. The move comes after the European Space Agency (ESA) identified the asteroid as the highest risk near-Earth object, with a 2.2% chance of impact in 2032.
The initiative is being led by China’s State Administration of Science, Technology, and Industry for National Defense (SASTIND), which has begun recruiting researchers to specialize in asteroid tracking, early warning systems, and impact prevention strategies. The decision marks a significant step in China’s growing involvement in global planetary defense efforts.
Asteroid 2024 YR4, discovered in December 2024 by the University of Hawaii’s Institute of Astronomy, is estimated to be 40 to 90 meters (130 to 300 feet) wide. If it were to strike Earth, it could cause severe regional damage, prompting space agencies worldwide to closely monitor its trajectory.
While scientists emphasize that the probability of impact remains low, the asteroid’s presence has renewed discussions about the need for global cooperation in space defense.
China has been increasing its investments in space exploration and security, with missions to the Moon, Mars, and asteroid mining projects already underway. The formation of a planetary defense team follows international efforts such as NASA’s DART mission, which successfully altered an asteroid’s path in 2022.
As China strengthens its planetary defense capabilities, experts highlight the need for international collaboration in tracking and mitigating asteroid threats. The establishment of China’s defense team signals its intention to play a key role in protecting Earth from future cosmic hazards.
President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim met to strengthen China-Malaysia ties during Xi’s Southeast Asia tour.
Nvidia has announced it expects a $5.5 billion financial impact after new US government export restrictions barred it from selling its advanced H20 AI chips to China without a license.
UK Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has suggested that the government may consider Chinese investment in British Steel, but he emphasized that any such bids would be subject to thorough scrutiny, particularly due to national security and economic concerns.
China has accused the United States National Security Agency (NSA) of conducting "advanced" cyberattacks during the Asian Winter Games in February, targeting key industries in the northeastern city of Harbin.
China has dismissed the recent decision by Google to rename parts of the disputed South China Sea, which now labels maritime areas near the Philippines as the West Philippine Sea.
As Sudan’s brutal conflict enters its third year, the UN’s migration agency has called for coordinated international action to prevent regional destabilization and address one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is set to meet U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Wednesday to address key international issues, with a particular focus on new U.S. tariffs.
Indigenous rights activists from across the globe gathered at the United Nations headquarters to demand stronger international support for decolonization and anti-colonial independence movements.
President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim met to strengthen China-Malaysia ties during Xi’s Southeast Asia tour.
Singapore’s Prime Minister warned that delayed U.S. tariffs still fuel global business uncertainty and hinder long-term investment planning.
A small plane crashed near Kopake, New York, on April 13, killing at 6 people. The Mitsubishi MU-2B aircraft, carrying six people, went down under unclear circumstances. This marks the second aviation accident in New York in a week, raising safety concerns.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for April 10th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
A quiet Thursday afternoon at St. Peter’s Basilica turned into something extraordinary, as visitors caught a rare glimpse of Pope Francis — not in his familiar white papal robes, but dressed in black trousers and a striped blanket.
In a dramatic about-face, U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced a 90-day pause on newly implemented tariffs for dozens of countries — a move that eased market turmoil but further escalated tensions with China.
Several regions in Ukraine faced heightened alert on Palm Sunday, as reports of explosions and missile threats drew public attention and official responses.
As Sudan’s brutal conflict enters its third year, the UN’s migration agency has called for coordinated international action to prevent regional destabilization and address one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is set to meet U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Wednesday to address key international issues, with a particular focus on new U.S. tariffs.
Indigenous rights activists from across the globe gathered at the United Nations headquarters to demand stronger international support for decolonization and anti-colonial independence movements.
President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim met to strengthen China-Malaysia ties during Xi’s Southeast Asia tour.
Singapore’s Prime Minister warned that delayed U.S. tariffs still fuel global business uncertainty and hinder long-term investment planning.
As Sudan’s brutal conflict enters its third year, the UN’s migration agency has called for coordinated international action to prevent regional destabilization and address one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is set to meet U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Wednesday to address key international issues, with a particular focus on new U.S. tariffs.
Indigenous rights activists from across the globe gathered at the United Nations headquarters to demand stronger international support for decolonization and anti-colonial independence movements.
President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim met to strengthen China-Malaysia ties during Xi’s Southeast Asia tour.
Singapore’s Prime Minister warned that delayed U.S. tariffs still fuel global business uncertainty and hinder long-term investment planning.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment