Establishment of Chinese 'Planetary Defense' Unit in Preparation for 2032 Asteroid Threat

The latest discovery, asteroid 2024 YR4, poses a 2.2% risk of colliding with Earth in 2032, leading China to form a planetary defense team. Referred to as a 'country killer,' this asteroid, measuring 40-90 meters wide, has the potential to explode with a force equivalent to 100 times that of the Hiroshima bomb if it impacts. While the likelihood of an impact is relatively low, the consequences could be catastrophic if it strikes a mid-sized city. Space agencies globally are gearing up for preventive measures, with plans for potential DART-style deflection missions akin to NASA's successful test in 2022.