China National Space Administration: China will establish a near-Earth asteroid collaborative space-ground monitoring system

Today (the 30th) is International Asteroid Day. The risk of near-Earth asteroid impacts is a potential threat faced by all of humanity. Today, the National Space Agency released a statement saying that China will build a space–Earth collaborative monitoring system for near-Earth asteroids to provide early-warning and monitoring support for asteroid impact defense.

Experts say that near-Earth asteroid impacts are a challenge that all of humanity faces together. As a responsible spacefaring nation, China is currently developing and evaluating a China Asteroid Defense System. To defend against them, early warning must come first, and a space–Earth integrated monitoring network is the core of early warning. China will form a round-the-clock, no-coverage-blind-spots monitoring system by deploying multiple telescopes on the ground and building a satellite constellation in space, among other measures.

Once a threat is detected, how should it be handled? Experts say that there are currently two main types of technologies: kinetic impact and continuous deflection. The former relies on high-speed impact to instantly change an asteroid’s orbit, while the latter uses methods such as gravitational towing and laser ablation to cause it to deviate over the long term. (CCTV News)