China Targets Asteroid 2016 WP8 for 2027 Planetary Defense Test Mission
China plans to launch its first planetary defense kinetic test mission in December 2027, targeting near-Earth asteroid 2016 WP8. The mission will utilize a Long March 3B rocket from Xichang Satellite Launch Center and includes both an impactor and an observer spacecraft. The observer will perform a flyby of Venus before reaching the asteroid in 2029, where follow-up assessments will be conducted post-impact. This mission aligns with China's broader goals for planetary defense outlined in its latest Five-Year Plan.
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China has selected near-Earth asteroid 2016 WP8 as the target for its first planetary defense kinetic test mission, set to launch in December 2027. The mission will be conducted on a Long March 3B rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center and will consist of an impactor and an observer spacecraft.
The observer will fly by Venus before reaching 2016 WP8 in 2029 for observations. The impactor will remain in Earth's orbit until it impacts the asteroid later in 2029. This mission is part of China's Five-Year Plan (2026-2030), which includes commitments to planetary defense and commercial space initiatives. Previous target asteroids have been revised, with earlier plans including 2020 PN1 and 2019 VL5.
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