China Selects Asteroid Target for Planned Kinetic Impact Mission

• March 21, 2026

China has identified a specific asteroid for a forthcoming mission designed to test techniques for planetary defense by using a kinetic impactor spacecraft. This mission intends to demonstrate the capability to alter the orbit of a potentially hazardous asteroid, aligning China with ongoing global efforts to enhance Earth’s safety through space technology.

Studies and tests of such impact deflection methods are inspired by the precedent set by NASA’s DART (Double Asteroid Redirection Test) mission. Conducted in September 2022, the DART mission successfully showcased the feasibility of changing an asteroid’s trajectory by colliding a spacecraft into it at high speed.

Advancing Planetary Defense Strategies

The Chinese mission plans to launch a spacecraft near the end of 2027 with the objective of impacting the target asteroid by 2029. This timeline reflects a strategic approach to developing and validating asteroid deflection technologies that could protect Earth from future threats posed by near-Earth objects.

While technical specifics and mission details have not been fully disclosed, the selection of the asteroid as a target marks a critical milestone in the mission’s progress. The emphasis remains strictly scientific, aiming to contribute data and experience to the international planetary defense community.

Planetary defense has become an increasingly important field as awareness grows about the potential risks posed by asteroids and comets in near-Earth space. Missions like NASA’s DART and the forthcoming Chinese kinetic impact mission represent proactive efforts to mitigate these threats before they can result in catastrophic consequences.

International collaboration and the development of diverse technologies are viewed as essential components of safeguarding the planet. China’s entry into this domain highlights the expanding global commitment to space-based planetary defense capabilities.

China has chosen an asteroid for a kinetic impact mission aimed at planetary defense, aiming to strike it around 2029 following a launch in late 2027.