China plans system to take out asteroids hurtling toward Earth

FILE PHOTO: Rescue workers carry Chinese astronaut Zhai Zhigang out of a return capsule after three astronauts returned to earth following the Shenzhou-13 manned space mission to complete construction of the space station, at the Dongfeng landing site in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China on April 16, 2022. (China Daily via REUTERS)

China plans to develop a system for monitoring asteroids that pose a threat to earth, highlighting the nation’s growing ambitions for its space program.

The country will also explore ways for taking out asteroids that endanger the planet, Wu Yanhua, deputy director of the China National Space Administration, said in a TV interview, according to the official Xinhua News Agency.