Chinese spacecraft will crash into an asteroid at 23,000 km/h to change its speed and trajectory

In late September, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Double Asteroid Rendezvous Test (DART) probe crashed into an asteroid on purpose. China wants to do the same.

Here's What We Know

Chinese scientists will send two vehicles into space in 2025. One will crash into the asteroid 2019 VL5 at 23,000 km/h and the other will observe the collision of the two objects. 2019 VL5 poses no danger to Earth.

The purpose of the mission is to alter the speed and trajectory of the asteroid. Both will be sent into space using a Long March 3B rocket. The first to approach the asteroid will be the device that will monitor the impact. It is equipped with high-resolution cameras that will record the ejection of debris after the impact. The device will be positioned 30km away from 2019 VL5.

China originally wanted to attack the asteroid called 2020 PN1. It is now a backup target in case the mission to hit 2019 VL5 fails.

Source: Space News