China builds asteroid detection network, plans impact test by 2030

China is establishing a planetary‑defence system that combines powerful ground‑based telescopes with orbiting sensors to monitor near‑Earth asteroids continuously. Chief scientist Li Mingtao noted that while there are no known imminent threats, many medium‑sized objects—about 140 metres across, capable of regional devastation—remain undetected.

In parallel, China is preparing its first asteroid‑deflection mission, aiming to deliberately crash a spacecraft into a near‑Earth asteroid before 2030. The target, identified as 2025 XF261 (also referred to as 2015 XF261), is roughly 30 metres in diameter. The mission will use two spacecraft: one to strike the asteroid at speeds exceeding 5–9 km s⁻¹, faster than NASA’s DART, and a second to observe the impact and its effects on the asteroid’s orbit, shape and internal structure. A possible launch window is in 2029‑2030 when the asteroid passes within a few million miles of Earth. The experiment seeks to demonstrate a realistic planetary‑defence scenario, including the ability to alter an asteroid’s trajectory or break it apart if necessary.