吴伟仁院士解读：我们为什么要去撞击小行星

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the significance of asteroid exploration, defense, and resource utilization, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive strategy to address potential threats from near-Earth asteroids and the opportunities they present for future space economy [5][11]. Group 1: Asteroid Characteristics and Distribution - The solar system contains billions of asteroids, categorized into near-Earth asteroids, main belt asteroids, Trojan asteroids, centaur asteroids, and Kuiper belt asteroids, serving as "living fossils" of solar system formation [6]. - Near-Earth asteroids are defined as those with a perihelion distance of less than 1.3 AU, and they are rich in metals, water ice, and other resources, classified into metallic, carbonaceous, and silicate types [6][11]. Group 2: Current Exploration and Defense Efforts - Japan's Hayabusa mission was the first to return samples from an asteroid, while China's Chang'e 2 conducted a flyby of the asteroid Toutatis, showcasing advancements in asteroid exploration [7]. - The U.S. has successfully tested kinetic impactor technology for asteroid deflection, with the DART mission demonstrating the ability to alter an asteroid's trajectory [7][9]. - China is planning to implement a demonstration mission for asteroid deflection by 2027, aiming to validate the feasibility of kinetic impact techniques [9][10]. Group 3: Threats Posed by Asteroids - Near-Earth asteroids pose significant threats, with historical events like the Chicxulub impact leading to mass extinctions and recent incidents causing damage and injuries [8][9]. - As of March 2025, only 1% of near-Earth asteroids have been cataloged, highlighting the challenges in monitoring and tracking these celestial bodies [8]. Group 4: Resource Development Potential - Asteroids hold immense economic value, with estimates suggesting that over 700 of the 1,000 well-studied asteroids could each be worth over $100 trillion, and the total value of main belt asteroid resources could exceed $70 trillion in the next 30 years [12]. - The development of asteroid resources involves a series of activities including exploration, extraction, processing, and transportation, potentially leading to a "space supply chain" [11][12].