China is one of the few countries with a developed space science sector capable of sending humans into space. However, Chinese astronauts are not allowed to set foot on the International Space Station (ISS).
The International Space Station (ISS) is a multinational project, built in collaboration by five space agencies, including NASA (USA), RKA (Russia), CSA (Canada), ESA (Europe), and JAXA (Japan). Construction of the ISS began in 1998, operating in low Earth orbit.
The ISS began to take shape when two modules of the space station were assembled in space. Interestingly, these two modules were developed by two different countries, which are also the two nations with the most advanced space science capabilities in the world: Russia and the United States.
The module developed by the United States is called Unity, while the module built by Russia is named Zarya. These two modules were assembled together in Earth’s orbit and continue to exist today.
254 astronauts and scientists have visited the ISS. (Photo: ISS).
Since 2000, when the first astronauts arrived at the ISS, there has not been a single moment in the past 23 years when the ISS was devoid of human presence.
To date, 254 individuals, consisting of astronauts and scientists from various nationalities, have visited the ISS. Notably, no Chinese astronaut has yet set foot on the ISS.
So, why is it that China, one of the three countries capable of sending humans into space (along with Russia and the United States), is absent from the ISS?
The reason for this stems from a provision in a law passed by the U.S. Congress in 2011. This law, proposed by Congressman Frank Wolf, prohibits NASA from collaborating with any country that has a “non-friendly” military policy towards the U.S. China is one of those countries.
U.S. lawmakers are concerned that if NASA collaborates with China, American technological secrets in the field of space science could be stolen and replicated, jeopardizing national security.
Although Congressman Frank Wolf has been retired since 2015, the ban remains in effect.
However, many might question why the U.S. Congress passed this ban, given that the U.S. previously collaborated with the Soviet Union during the Cold War to develop space research programs. To this day, despite ongoing disagreements, Russia and the U.S. continue to cooperate in building the ISS.
The primary reason is that the Soviet Union had made significant breakthroughs in space science. Collaborating with the Soviet Union helped the U.S. save costs and reduce the financial burden in the race for space exploration.
Moreover, the collaboration between the U.S. and Russia in space exploration is seen as a symbol of reconciliation between the two superpowers after the Cold War. The ISS is regarded as a monumental achievement for humanity and signifies cooperation among major powers.
In 2007, China’s Vice Minister of Science and Technology, Li Xueyang, announced that China wished to participate in the ISS construction project.
By 2010, the Director General of the European Space Agency (ESA), Jean-Jacques Dordain, stated that ESA was ready to propose to the four other ISS partners to invite China to collaborate on the project. However, Dordain also mentioned that a collective decision from all project members was necessary.
While Russia and Europe were open to China’s participation in the ISS project, the U.S. maintained its stance.
The Chinese government has repeatedly asserted that international exchanges and cooperation in aerospace technology are based on mutual benefit and are intended for peaceful uses and common development. However, this seems insufficient to convince the U.S. Congress to lift the ban.
Chinese scientists have also frequently criticized the U.S. Congress’s ban as “unethical.” Despite being barred from collaborating with the U.S., China continues to work with Russia and the European Space Agency (ESA) on its own space research projects.
China is also independently developing its own space research program, which includes the construction of the Tiangong space station, launched into space in September 2011.
