The China National Space Administration (CNSA) has officially announced plans to create a comprehensive "space-ground" system for monitoring and early warning of asteroids potentially hazardous to Earth. The announcement was made on June 30 — International Asteroid Day.

What China plans

According to Li Mingtao, chief scientist of the Asteroid Monitoring and Early Warning Center, China is studying the possibility of creating a full-fledged planetary defense system. Its foundation will be a network of ground-based and space-based observation facilities.

Li noted that no asteroid has yet been found that would definitely collide with Earth in the foreseeable future, but concerns about collision risks are not unfounded, adding that many near-Earth asteroids remain undetected.

Plans include:

  • Deployment of several large optical telescopes in strategically chosen locations on Earth
  • Creation of a space-based satellite constellation for observation, free from atmospheric interference and day/night limitations
  • Special attention to threats from the Sun's direction (asteroids approaching from the solar side are extremely difficult to detect from Earth)

Which orbits are being considered

According to scientific publications and presentations by Chinese specialists, the following options are being studied for the space component:

  • The Sun–Earth L1 Lagrange point
  • Orbits leading or trailing Earth
  • Venus-like orbits
  • Distant retrograde orbit (DRO) in accompaniment with Earth

Of particular interest is a concept close to the previously proposed CROWN project — a constellation of small satellites on Venus-like orbits for observing the "solar" zone.

Context and global significance

China is also developing a demonstration mission with a kinetic impact on an asteroid, similar to the American DART and the future European Hera. The country's 15th Five-Year Plan explicitly states that the asteroid defense project is in the study phase.

Experts note that Chinese initiatives could significantly complement the international efforts of NASA and ESA. However, effective open international cooperation and data sharing are essential for success.

In brief

China has announced plans to create a comprehensive early warning system for hazardous asteroids, including ground-based telescopes and a space-based satellite constellation. Special attention will be given to threats from the Sun's direction. Scientists are studying various orbits for the space component. The initiative fits into the growing global interest in planetary defense and could become an important contribution from China to the international system for monitoring near-Earth objects.