China Builds Asteroid Warning Network as 55% of 140-Meter Threats Remain Undetected
Updated
Updated · South China Morning Post · Jul 16
China Builds Asteroid Warning Network as 55% of 140-Meter Threats Remain Undetected
2 articles · Updated · South China Morning Post · Jul 16
Summary
China is developing an asteroid early-warning system that will combine ground-based telescopes with a constellation of orbital satellites, according to the chief scientist of the national mission.
Li Mingtao said the push targets near-Earth asteroids that are still going undetected, especially objects about 140 meters wide that could devastate a small country.
More than 95% of near-Earth asteroids larger than 1 kilometer have already been identified, but only about 45% of the 140-meter class are believed to have been found.
Those smaller threats pose the biggest risk because they are numerous, very faint before approach and can arrive from the direction of the sun, making them harder to spot early.
If many asteroids are actually hidden comets, are our defense plans aimed at the wrong threat?
With rival asteroid shields emerging, are we racing to save Earth or to control space?
China's Integrated Asteroid Early Warning System: A New Era in Global Planetary Defense
Overview
The report highlights the growing global concern over the threat posed by Near-Earth Asteroids (NEAs), which often go undetected—especially those approaching from the direction of the Sun due to limitations of ground-based telescopes. In response, China announced in mid-2026 its plan to build a comprehensive 'space-ground' asteroid early-warning network. This initiative aims to create a coordinated monitoring system for NEAs, forming the foundation of a future asteroid defense system. The announcement reflects an increasing international recognition of the urgent need for improved detection and tracking of potentially hazardous celestial objects.