The Chinese scientific community welcomes global scientists to study lunar samples from the Moon’s far side, but with restrictions for the U.S.
Chinese space officials announced last week that they welcome scientists from around the world to apply for research on samples brought back from the far side of the Moon by the Chang’e 6 probe, as reported by AP.
Notably, there are still restrictions in place as China limits collaboration with scientists from the United States.
Technicians collecting samples retrieved from the far side of the Moon from the capsule of the Chang’e 6 probe.
During a live-streamed press conference in Beijing to introduce the achievements of the mission to the Moon’s far side, Bian Zhigang, vice president of the China National Space Administration, stated that the barrier to collaboration originates from the U.S.
“The root of the barrier in U.S.-China space cooperation lies in the Wolf Amendment. If the U.S. truly hopes to start regular space collaboration, I think they should take appropriate measures to remove this barrier,” Zhigang remarked.
The Wolf Amendment, enacted in 2011, prohibits NASA from collaborating with China unless the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) confirms that there are no national security risks in sharing information with China.
Chinese officials stated that they can still collaborate with scientists from other countries, as they have done with the European Space Agency, France, Italy, and Pakistan during the Chang’e 6 mission.
Liu Yunfeng, director of the International Cooperation Office of the China National Space Administration, noted: “China welcomes scientists from all countries to submit applications through the proper channels and share the benefits together.”
However, Chinese officials declined to disclose how many samples they have actually collected or any preliminary findings regarding the retrieved samples.
Last week, Chinese scientists indicated that they anticipate the samples returned will include 2.5 million-year-old volcanic rocks and other materials that scientists hope will answer questions about the geographical differences on the two sides of the Moon. This mission aims to collect 2 kilograms (over 4 pounds) of material.
Chinese scientists have announced several future plans, including the Chang’e 7 mission, which is scheduled to explore resource potentials at the Moon’s South Pole.
Further ahead, they have planned Tianwen-3 around 2030 for a Mars sample return mission and a Tianwen-4 mission to explore Jupiter.
