Overview

• Wu Weiren announced the kinetic-impact demonstration at the Third International Deep Space Exploration Conference in Hefei, describing an observer craft arriving first and a high-speed impactor following.
• The test is designed to register an orbital change of roughly 3–5 centimeters, serving as a proof-of-concept rather than a threat response.
• China presented a comprehensive plan spanning detection, early warning, in-orbit handling, and coordinated response under UN COPUOS frameworks.
• Officials said observation data will be shared through the International Asteroid Warning Network and invited cooperation via IAWN and SMPAG.
• The target asteroid and launch timing were not disclosed; the effort builds on the May 2025 Tianwen-2 mission and expanded ground telescopes and, if carried out, would make China the second nation after NASA’s 2022 DART to demonstrate orbital deflection.