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China has recently established a “planetary defense” team, which has garnered significant attention due to concerns surrounding the asteroid 2024 YR4.The European Space Agency (ESA) has updated the probability of this asteroid hitting Earth in 2032 to 2.2%, placing it at the top of their risk list (Source 1).
The Chinese recruitment for this team comes with job descriptions focused on international cooperation and designing systems for new and experimental technology. The roles involve research on monitoring and early warning of near-Earth asteroids, requiring graduates with a master’s degree or higher in relevant fields such as astrophysics, earth and space exploration technology, and aerospace science and technology (Source 3).
While the discovery of asteroid 2024 YR4 has raised concerns, it’s not clear whether the recruitment was specifically prompted by this event. Andrew jones, a correspondent at SpaceNews specializing in China’s sector, suggests that the timing may be coincidental and that the jobs are likely part of China’s ongoing efforts to develop its planetary defence capabilities (Source 3).
The asteroid in question, 2024 YR4, was observed by the Magdalena Ridge 2.4m telescope at the new Mexico Institute of technology in January 2025 (Source 2). If it were to impact Earth, it could detonate with a force 100 times greater than the Hiroshima bomb, making it a significant threat (Source 3).
In response to the public’s reactions, while some express stress about the responsibility of the team, others highlight the potential heroism if they succeed. However, failure would result in catastrophic consequences (source 3).
References:
- SCMP - China builds ‘planetary defence’ team as concerns grow over 2024 YR4
- Global Times – China steps up planetary defence efforts amid asteroid impact concerns
- Yahoo news UK – China creates planetary defence team as huge asteroid is coming
China is focusing on asteroid deflection as a key aspect of its aerospace development, particularly in response to the threat posed by asteroids like 2024 YR4. The country is planning to replicate the successful 2020 Double Asteroid Redirection Test (Dart) conducted by NASA,which involved crashing a spacecraft into the asteroid Dimorphos to successfully alter its trajectory. This mission demonstrated the feasibility of deflecting asteroids, marking a significant milestone in planetary defense.
China is preparing its own asteroid-redirection test, scheduled for 2027, targeting a smaller asteroid named 2015 XF261. However, there are concerns about the smaller size of the asteroid China is targeting. Harrison Agrusa, a planetary scientist at the Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur, noted that impacting a smaller asteroid could possibly disrupt it completely, creating multiple fragments with unknown trajectories, which might exacerbate the problem rather than solve it.Despite these concerns, Agrusa emphasized that there is no need to be overly alarmed about 2024 YR4. The success of the Dart mission has shown that the technology to deflect such asteroids exists.The primary focus should be on studying and understanding the asteroid to ensure effective mitigation strategies are in place.
Collaboration among various countries and aerospace organizations is crucial in addressing the threat posed by potentially hazardous asteroids. By working together, the international community can enhance their capabilities in asteroid detection, tracking, and deflection, ensuring the safety of Earth from asteroid impacts.