Space Won’t Be Safe Until the U.S. and China Can Cooperate
China is undeniably one of the world’s top players in space these days, with successful missions to the moon and Mars and a solar probe due to be launched soon. Its rise has spurred competition with the U.S.; “Watch the Chinese,” NASA Administrator Bill Nelson recently warned. Given the strategic value the two nations have placed on their space programs, and the political tension that already exists between the countries, the contest over achievements in space is likely to intensify.
Yet, there are serious barriers to a tête-à-tête—including the fact that some kinds of cooperation are illegal. The Wolf Amendment prohibits NASA from using government funds to engage with the Chinese government and China-affiliated organizations. However, this legislation does not block all cooperative possibilities, such as exchanging orbit information about human-made space objects through agencies like the North American Aerospace Defense Command.
But the path ahead may not be smooth. The U.S. has accused China of worsening the issue, notably during a 2007 Chinese antisatellite test that created more than 150,000 pieces of space debris. Because everything in orbit is moving so fast, a collision between a small bit of debris and a spacecraft could prove catastrophic. Yet, one year later, the U.S.
China appears keen to be involved in the international rulemaking process for space under the framework of the United Nations, according to statements in the recent white paper. Realistically, China can achieve this goal only through open and constructive engagement with other stakeholder nations.
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