China Plans to Crash Craft into Asteroid to Test Planetary Defense

By the Editorial Team · Wednesday, July 22, 2026

Chinese astronomers plan to crash a spacecraft into the asteroid 2015 XF261 by 2030 to alter its orbit and fragment it as part of a planetary defense test. This mission aims to build on previous efforts by demonstrating a more forceful method of asteroid deflection, which could improve Earth's protection against potentially hazardous near-Earth objects.

Chinese astronomers have announced plans to deliberately crash a spacecraft into an asteroid by 2030 as part of an effort to develop techniques for planetary defense against potentially hazardous near-Earth objects. This mission aims to directly alter the orbit of a small asteroid and fragment it, marking a more aggressive approach compared to previous efforts.

The target of the mission is the asteroid 2015 XF261, a relatively small body measuring approximately 30 meters in diameter. This asteroid follows an orbit around the sun that is similar to Earth’s and is predicted to pass relatively close to the planet around the time of the planned impact, making it an ideal candidate for such a test.

The proposed Chinese mission builds on the precedent set by NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) in 2022. In that mission, a spacecraft successfully altered the trajectory of the asteroid Dimorphos by shifting its orbit around the sun, demonstrating the potential of kinetic impactors as a planetary defense tool. However, unlike the DART mission’s goal of slightly adjusting an asteroid’s path, the Chinese project intends to directly influence the asteroid’s orbit in a more significant manner and to break it up, increasing the scale of the test.

Scientists emphasize the importance of developing effective planetary defense strategies in light of historical impacts that have posed threats to Earth. Notably, the 1908 Tunguska event in Siberia flattened vast forests, while the 2013 Chelyabinsk meteor airburst caused injuries to approximately 1,500 people in Russia. These incidents highlight the potential risks posed by near-Earth objects of comparable size.

By conducting a mission that involves crashing a spacecraft into a near-Earth asteroid and attempting to fragment it, Chinese researchers hope to advance the understanding and capabilities of asteroid deflection and mitigation techniques. The outcome could provide critical data for future efforts to protect Earth from asteroids that may present a significant collision risk.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.