Chinese university-led mission to study asteroid Apophis during close encounter with Earth

2026-06-19 · Source: SpaceNews · Field: Science & Research — Space Science & Astronomy, Engineering & Applied Sciences · Depth: Intermediate, short

Summary

The Student-led Threatening Asteroid Reconnaissance of Tsinghua (START) mission, a 200-kilogram class smallsat developed by over 20 undergraduate students at Tsinghua University, is preparing to study asteroid Apophis during its close Earth encounter on April 13, 2029. Scheduled for launch in early 2028 on a Landspace Zhuque-3 rocket as a free rideshare, START will use Xenon solar electric propulsion to reach an orbit of 31,600 km. It will then perform trajectory corrections to pass within 7 kilometers of the 340-meter asteroid at 8.74 kilometers per second. Equipped with narrow and wide-field cameras and dual visible-to-near-infrared hyperspectral imagers, the spacecraft aims for an 8-centimeter-per-pixel resolution to observe surface changes from Earth's tidal forces. With a budget of approximately \$2.8 million, START complements larger international missions like DESTINY+, RAMSES, and OSIRIS-APEx by focusing on the peak tidal-stress window.

Key takeaway

For space program managers evaluating mission costs or educators seeking impactful student projects, the START mission offers a compelling model. Its \$2.8 million budget, achieved via rideshare and student leadership, shows significant deep space science is attainable without flagship funding. Consider how similar low-cost, high-autonomy approaches could expand your organization's mission portfolio or inspire future engineering talent. This approach also highlights China's growing capabilities in planetary defense.

Key insights

The START mission demonstrates a low-cost, student-led approach to deep space asteroid observation, complementing larger international efforts.

Principles

• Low-cost missions can achieve deep space targets.
• Rideshare launches significantly reduce mission costs.
• Autonomous tracking extends observation windows.

Method

Launch smallsat via rideshare, use solar electric propulsion for orbit raising, then autonomous tracking for close-range asteroid observation during peak tidal-stress.

In practice

• Develop student-led smallsat missions for specific science.
• Utilize free rideshare opportunities for space access.
• Implement autonomous tracking for fleeting encounters.

Topics

• Asteroid Apophis
• Small Satellite Missions
• Solar Electric Propulsion
• Planetary Defense
• Tsinghua University
• Spacecraft Autonomy
• Low-Cost Space Missions

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Editorial summary, takeaway, and curation by AIssential. Original article published by SpaceNews.