Gong Zizheng, who led China’s planetary defence project, dies at 61

Gong Zizheng, a prominent figure in China's planetary defence efforts, passed away at the age of 61 on Saturday. A respected government advisor and leading voice in international space debris organizations, Gong succumbed to illness, according to Chinese media reports. Colleagues at the China Academy of Space Technology remembered him as an accomplished scientist, a warm and gentle person, and a generous mentor who shared his expertise with younger scholars.

Fellow researchers expressed deep sorrow over his premature loss, noting his practical and unassuming demeanor despite his high-profile position. Born in 1964, Gong completed his education at the National University of Defence Technology and the Beijing Institute of Technology before pursuing postdoctoral studies and visiting scholar positions at esteemed institutions in the United States.

He joined the China Academy of Space Technology in 2006, where he spearheaded efforts to address the growing issue of space debris. Among his innovations was the exploration of utilizing lasers to deorbit space junk, a promising approach to mitigate the growing problem. In 2020, Gong advocated for the development of a national near-Earth asteroid defense system, a project now underway in China aimed at intercepting and altering the trajectory of potential asteroid threats before 2030.

In a final public lecture in May 2025, Gong inspired young students at a Beijing high school to pursue their aspirations in space exploration.