China forms ‘Planetary Defense’ team amid concerns over potential asteroid impact
South China Morning Post
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.
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