China's Lunar Ambitions and the Importance of Transparency
General Stephen Whiting, Commander of the US Space Command, addressed the issue of China's progress towards establishing an international lunar research station during a Digital Press Briefing on Wednesday. He emphasized the need for greater transparency from China regarding its space activities, stating that "the Chinese aren't very transparent with what they do in space."
While acknowledging China's ambitions appear to be exploratory and scientific on the surface, Whiting expressed concern about the potential for a military component to their lunar research station. He highlighted the importance of abiding by the Outer Space Treaty, which prohibits the placement of nuclear weapons or other weapons of mass destruction in orbit.
Whiting also discussed the pacing challenge posed by China, particularly in the area of space domain awareness. He highlighted the importance of partnerships with allies like Japan and Korea in developing improved capabilities to track threats in space. He expressed excitement about the upcoming launch of Japan's deep-space radar, which will provide both countries with a better understanding of China's activities in space.
China's Shenzhou-18 Mission to Tiangong Space Station
The China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) announced the launch of the Shenzhou-18 crewed spaceship to the Tiangong space station. This mission marks the 32nd flight mission of China's manned space program and the third manned mission during the application and development stage of the space station.
The crew will spend approximately six months in orbit before returning to Earth in late October. This mission further demonstrates China's commitment to its ambitious space program and its growing presence in space exploration.