A team of specialists from the China National Space Administration (CNSA) has announced that the country will develop an integrated ground-and-space monitoring system for near-Earth asteroids, aimed at strengthening planetary defence against potential impact events.
The proposed system combines terrestrial observation infrastructure with orbital satellites to form a continuous, integrated surveillance network. Its primary objective is to ensure the early detection of potentially hazardous objects and provide sufficient lead time for mitigation measures. According to data cited by the United Nations, more than 40,000 near-Earth asteroids have already been catalogued, though numerous smaller objects remain unidentified.
China says it has already made advances in the development of predictive models and risk-assessment algorithms, and is currently building an operational impact-warning system based on space technology and computational intelligence. Scientists involved in the initiative note that effective planetary defence depends above all on timely alerts and the ability to forecast object trajectories with high precision.
“Once a potentially hazardous object is detected, strategies to alter its trajectory are studied. These include kinetic impact, in which a spacecraft collides with the asteroid to modify its course, as well as more advanced techniques such as the use of artificial gravity, lasers, and continuous propulsion systems,” the scientists explained, adding that the goal is to gradually divert the celestial body to eliminate any possibility of collision with Earth.
In addition, China plans to conduct a kinetic impact test on an asteroid located tens of millions of kilometres away within the coming year, with the aim of evaluating the effectiveness of the technology.
According to the Global Times, the project forms part of a broader context of growing international competition and cooperation in space exploration and cosmic threat defence — a subject attracting increasing attention from the world’s leading space powers.
Chinese space authorities state that the development of this system represents the country’s contribution to global planetary security, combining scientific cooperation with large-scale technological development.
Source: Diário Económico
Original article: https://www.diarioeconomico.co.mz/2026/07/08/trends/ciencia/china-anuncia-sistema-de-alerta-para-asteroides/
