# China nuclear asteroid deflection proposal

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/china-nuclear-asteroid-deflection-proposal
> Updated: 2026-08-04T20:54:58.000Z. Sources: 15. Developments: 3.

In early July 2026 Chinese researchers announced a concept for using nuclear explosives to alter the path of hazardous asteroids. By early August the team from the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology detailed a two‑step method: first drilling a deep cavity in the asteroid with a metal penetrator, then detonating a 3‑megaton nuclear device about 30 metres beneath the surface. Simulations suggested this could fragment a 100‑metre‑wide rock or change its velocity by more than three times that of a surface blast, offering greater control than a direct impact.

On 2 August the China Rocket Research Institute outlined a similar two‑phase strategy, describing an initial probe impact to create a shallow crater followed by placement of a ~3‑megaton nuclear charge. The institute highlighted China’s expanding planetary‑defence infrastructure, including a national early‑warning network and membership in the International Asteroid Warning Network (IAWN) and the Space Mission Planning Advisory Group (SMPAG). Senior engineer Wu Weiren and researcher Xiaowei Wang were named as leads.

The 2 August briefing also described two operational modes: a straightforward surface impact followed by a nuclear detonation, and a “pre‑excavation” approach that first creates a deeper crater before placing the device, aiming for a more powerful internal blast. Researchers emphasized that a three‑megaton explosion, equivalent to roughly 200 Hiroshima bombs, would be the most effective option for large asteroids detected only months or a few years before a potential impact.

A follow‑up paper on 4 August, again in *Space: Science & Technology*, reiterated the burial concept, noting that a 300‑kiloton explosion could destroy a 50‑metre asteroid while a 3‑megaton device would suffice for a 100‑metre body. The authors stressed that the technique is relevant only for short‑warning scenarios and cited NASA’s 2022 DART mission as a benchmark for kinetic‑impact deflection.

## Claims

- Chinese scientists propose a two‑phase asteroid deflection method using a probe to create a crater and then detonating a nuclear device inside the asteroid. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- The method is intended for large asteroids or those detected with short warning times. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- The nuclear explosion would have a yield of about three megatons, comparable to roughly 200 Hiroshima bombs. (single source)
- The plan was developed by researchers at the China Rocket Research Institute in Beijing. (single source)
- The concept builds on the success of NASA’s 2022 DART mission, which altered the trajectory of asteroid Dimorphos. (single source)
- China has established a national early‑warning network for asteroids and participates in the International Asteroid Warning Network (IAWN) and the Space Mission Planning Advisory Group (SMPAG). (single source)
- Wu Weiren, a senior engineer, leads the Deep Space Exploration Laboratory associated with the program. (single source)
- Xiaowei Wang leads the research team at the Chinese Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology that proposed the nuclear deflection methods. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-08-04: China Academy Proposes Burying Nuclear Bombs in Asteroids

Chinese scientists propose a two‑step plan—drilling a deep crater then detonating a buried nuclear bomb—to deflect or destroy large near‑Earth asteroids, claiming up to three‑fold velocity change versus surface

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/china-academy-proposes-burying-nuclear-bombs-in-asteroids

### 2026-08-02: China proposes nuclear blast plan to destroy threatening asteroids

Chinese scientists propose a two‑stage mission using impact probes and a nuclear device to destroy large near‑Earth asteroids, delivering a ~3‑megaton blast, as part of Beijing’s planetary‑defence push.

11 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/chinese-scientists-unveil-nuclear-technique-to-deflect-hazardous-asteroids

### 2026-07-08: Chinese scientists propose nuclear asteroid‑deflection method

Chinese researchers propose two nuclear‑detonation techniques—surface impact and deep‑crater deployment—to destroy or deflect asteroids larger than 100 m, offering a rapid response option beyond kinetic‑impact,

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/chinese-researchers-propose-nuclear-deepdetonation-method-to-deflect-threatening-asteroids

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Cite as: China nuclear asteroid deflection proposal. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/china-nuclear-asteroid-deflection-proposal