China Forms Planetary Defence Force Amid Asteroid Threats
China is actively recruiting for its planetary defence force, focusing on specialists in asteroid monitoring due to increased collision risks from asteroid 2024 YR4. NASA has raised the collision probability of this asteroid, which could cause significant damage if it were to strike. China’s efforts include plans for a future asteroid impact mission, mirroring NASA’s DART initiative to test asteroid deflection techniques.
China has initiated a recruitment campaign for a planetary defence force in response to concerns about a potential asteroid collision with Earth in 2032. The recruitment is managed by the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense, which seeks to hire three specialists in asteroid monitoring and early warning systems. Candidates must be recent graduates under 35, possessing technical qualifications and loyalty to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and its ideology.
This recruitment follows reports that NASA has increased the predicted collision risk of the asteroid 2024 YR4, which was first detected in December at a 1.3% chance of impacting Earth. This probability nearly doubled to 2.3% within a week as more data became available. The asteroid measures between 130 and 300 feet and is classified as a level 3 threat on the Torino Impact Hazard Scale, indicating it could cause significant damage to major urban areas.
Asteroid 2024 YR4 has a highly elliptical four-year orbit, traversing the inner planets and potentially impacting regions including the Eastern Pacific Ocean, northern South America, and parts of Africa and Asia. Experts monitor its trajectory closely due to possible consequences if it were to collide with Earth. Additionally, China’s growing interest in planetary defence underscores global awareness and preparedness for near-Earth threats.
In a bid to enhance its capabilities, China revealed its first near-Earth asteroid defence mission last year, which aims to closely observe asteroids and implement kinetic impact techniques to alter their trajectories by 2030. This initiative aligns closely with NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART), which was successfully conducted to demonstrate asteroid deflection techniques using kinetic impact.
China’s recruitment for its planetary defence force and its plans for an asteroid impact mission highlight a proactive approach amid increasing asteroid collision concerns. The increased risk of asteroid 2024 YR4, along with significant past missions like DART, illustrates the importance of global preparedness for potential threats from space. This strategic move reflects both national security interests and the imperative for technological advancements in planetary defence.
Original Source: www.ndtv.com
