SMRTR Science & EngineeringJul 20, 2026Interesting Engineering

China prepares to hit asteroid using projectile with 26 times the speed of sound

SMRTR summary

China plans to launch a spacecraft to strike asteroid 2015 XF261 at Mach 26 — faster than NASA's DART mission — to test real planetary defense by directly changing the asteroid's Earth-relative trajectory. A second observation craft will monitor the impact, with the encounter targeting a 2029–2030 close approach.

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