China also wants to test itself in a planetary defense mission

The United States has conducted the first demonstration of planetary defense technology. China, by all accounts, is eager to succeed with its own test. Beijing has been working on this for several years. We already knew about the DART mission (Double Asteroid Redirection Test), which took place in 2022 under the aegis of the United States. Soon, we will have to deal with another mission of the same kind, but this time Chinese. Beijing also wants to conduct its own mission. of deviation of a asteroidto gain proficiency in planetary defense.

A target with a diameter of 30 meters

This is what the publication reports The Planet Society in its July 2 edition. The newspaper learned of an article that appeared in the magazine Journal of Deep Space Explorationwhich presents a project of voluntary collision with an asteroid (2015 XF261) with a diameter of about thirty meters. This test is supposed to take place before 2030. The mission, if it comes to fruition, would consist of sending a space probe to the vicinity of 2015 XF261 and placing it in orbit. Then, it would be a question of dropping a projectile at high speed against the asteroid, so that this would have an impact on its movement. The probe would remain at a distance to make observations. This is the plan followed with DART. China has already thought about a more significant contribution to planetary defense. In 2023, there was talk of launching a mission in 2025 to aim at the celestial body codenamed 2019 VL5. The asteroid also has a diameter of about 30 meters. Both are classified as near-Earth objects, as they are in close proximity to Earth.

The principle of the DART mission. The Chinese mission, if it takes place, will follow the same logic. // Source: John Hopkins University (cropped image)

The defense of the planet Earth versus celestial bodies is a topic that has gained importance in recent years. Even Europe is in this niche: in October 2024, the Hera mission is due to leave. The aim is mainly to confirm the results of the DART mission of the American space agency (NASA), not to repeat this test. The DART mission managed to deflect the small asteroid Dimorphos, and in unexpected proportions. In doing so, it was proven that the trajectory of an asteroid can be modified. The challenge was notable in view of the target (the small asteroid around Didymos measures 164 meters, four times larger than 2015 XF261). The Hera mission must refine the measurements made remotely on Dimorphos, in addition to the work accomplished by the probe remaining in orbit. All the data accumulated will subsequently be used for other deviations. It should be noted that, to date, no asteroid directly threatens the Earth, and this in the near future. The risks of collision with the Earth are generally assessed on two scales: that of Turin And that of Palermo.