China's Shenzhou spacecraft
June 28, U.S. President Barack Obama releases a new national space policy, changed the former Bush’s “military confrontation” argument brings up the “cooperation” banner, seeking to strengthen international cooperation in space. It was also pointed out that the United States seeks to dominate the space, the militarization of space and set policy has not changed, but more rich in strategic skill.
Involved in GPS research associate Xu Bieguo
50 years since the last century, Dwight Eisenhower came to power, the United States presidents will release a version of the national space policy, space strategy for the term set the tone. Associated Press June 28 news said that Bush “never promise to enter the enemy,” the militarization of space policy than unilateral, Obama is more emphasis on international cooperation, “One of our central goals is to promote the field of space peaceful cooperation, not only to avoid conflict, also help to strengthen the United States in Earth orbit and beyond the operating capabilities. “White House National Security Council, Peter Marquez space policy adviser, said the new policies tend to” use the dialog to control the arms race This is Bush, Clinton-era policy of tone, we just restore the existing position. ”
“Youth Reference” newspaper reporters that the U.S. government website, the 18-page policy report, listed a number of areas where international cooperation can hereby, including space exploration, Earth observation, climate change research and environmental data sharing, disaster reduction such as disaster relief and even the monitoring of space junk. Reported that the Obama administration’s primary goal is to “revitalize the domestic space industry”, compared to 2006, the Bush space policy objectives – “to strengthen national leadership,” obviously much more moderate.
According to “Los Angeles Times” analysis, Obama encouraged the U.S. space industry, “go out” looking for a partner in the global market. By contrast, Bush stressed that “do everything possible to prevent the advanced space technology into the hands of unfriendly countries”, which tie themselves. The report acknowledged that U.S. space policy has been to the “crossroads of change”, needs and space powers (including Russia and China) to cooperate to address common problems of mankind.
Particular concern, the report will exclude other countries involved in the past the U.S. Global Positioning System (GPS) research and development, but also into areas of cooperation in an attempt to enhance the adaptability and compatibility with GPS. U.S. global security organization responsible for John Parker described the move tantamount to “open the door of space cooperation.”
“Thrown to the Beijing Declaration and friendly”
In view of the current U.S. debt, had to shelve a number of cutting-edge space exploration program, while China is brewing in the land on the moon in the near future, outsiders have a new U.S. space policy in cooperation with the U.S. link.
According to the U.S. “missile threat” website on June 29 reported that Obama’s technology adviser John Holdren mentioned in an interview, all of the U.S. space shuttle scheduled to retire next year, in the future, the United States into the international space station astronauts The traffic problem is especially pronounced. Before the advent of a new generation of space shuttles in the “gap period”, only Russia and China can provide alternatives. Although Russia has many years experience in transporting U.S. astronauts, but Holdren said, “Americans do not rule out future international space station aboard China’s spacecraft to the possibility.”
In this regard, the European Space Policy Institute Kay – said: “Holdren conversation is no different from Washington to Beijing for a friendly political statements thrown. … … As the new report set So, Obama wants to go further (US space cooperation) the door completely open. ”
On the new space policy can not be too optimistic
However, some experts pointed out that China is not on Obama’s new space policy as too optimistic, the United States can not give up its hegemonic position in space, the so-called “cooperation” is more like a strategy to control the other opponents.
Hong Kong Quan male sea military expert on the “Youth Reference” newspaper said that behind the new U.S. space policy, China is still hidden anxiety. For example, China already has the moon program, which NASA plans at the slow progress of the new moon, face the risk of losing the moon race, “the U.S. certainly can not accept psychologically, it would prefer in hopes of to control. “In Washington, if successful, will lead China into their own space alliance, not necessarily an ideal situation.
Another unnamed domestic military experts also stressed that China has conducted anti-satellite test in 2007, the United States has this to heart, that their threats to space assets, and use it as an excuse for continued development of space warfare capabilities This policy is unlikely to tone changes due to changes in the ruling team.
October 30, according to published “Global Times” reported that the Russian spaceship on the 28th of declared nuclear program, the West generally are not optimistic. Associated Press article stated: Russia’s aspirations with its space marked contrast to the actual situation in Russia is still in use 40 years ago on the use of “union” of rockets and spacecraft, a new generation of conventional thrust of rocket and spacecraft planned for the foreseeable future, do not see the hope of being approved. Therefore, the Russian Space Agency plans to sound more like is to ask the government funding, rather than a detailed proposal.