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China Plans First Planetary Defense Test Against Asteroid 2016 WP8

3/19/2026

Summary

Story summary

Long Lehao from China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation announced China's first planetary-defense kinetic test mission.
The mission targets near-Earth asteroid 2016 WP8 and begins December 2027.
The mission uses a Long March 3B rocket to deploy an impactor and an observer spacecraft.
The observer will fly by Venus in 2029 to study orbital changes on the asteroid.
China's 2026–2030 Five-Year Plan includes commitments to planetary defense and space technology.

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Story summary

Long Lehao from China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation announced China's first planetary-defense kinetic test mission.
The mission targets near-Earth asteroid 2016 WP8 and begins December 2027.
The mission uses a Long March 3B rocket to deploy an impactor and an observer spacecraft.
The observer will fly by Venus in 2029 to study orbital changes on the asteroid.
China's 2026–2030 Five-Year Plan includes commitments to planetary defense and space technology.