Key facts
- China is planning a planetary defense test.
- The test will involve striking an asteroid with a projectile.
- The projectile is designed to travel at Mach 26.
- The mission's goal is to evaluate the effectiveness of kinetic impactors in deflecting near-Earth objects.
China is preparing to conduct a significant planetary defense test, aiming to strike an asteroid with a projectile traveling at Mach 26. This mission is designed to evaluate the effectiveness of kinetic impactors, a method where a spacecraft intentionally collides with an asteroid to alter its trajectory, as a means of defending Earth from potential asteroid impacts. The test represents a crucial step in developing capabilities to mitigate the threat posed by near-Earth objects.