Representative photograph
Beijing: China today asked the United States that as a State Party to the Outer Space Treaty, it should respect international order in space based on international law, and act responsibly to safeguard the safety of in-orbit astronauts and the safe and steady operation of space facilities.
China today confirmed that Starlink satellites launched by Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX) of the US had two close encounters with the China Space Station in July and October this year respectively when Chinese astronauts were working there. For safety considerations, the China Space Station implemented preventive collision avoidance control.
The UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space had on December 6, 2021, posted on its official website that on December 3, that Starlink satellites launched by Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX) of the United States of America had had two close encounters with the China Space Station and for safety reasons, the China Space Station implemented preventive collision avoidance control on July 1 and October 21, 2021, respectively.
China asked the US to take prompt measures to prevent such incidents from recurring.
The 1967 Outer Space Treaty, which is widely recognized as the cornerstone of international space law, stipulates that “States Parties to the Treaty shall regard astronauts as envoys of mankind in outer space”; respect and protect their safety; “immediately inform the other States Parties to the Treaty or the Secretary-General of the United Nations of any phenomena they discover in outer space … which could constitute a danger to the life or health of astronauts”; and “bear international responsibility for national activities in outer space” conducted by their private companies.
“To fulfill its treaty obligations” and ensure the safety of astronauts, the Chinese government informed the UN Secretary-General of the dangerous phenomena as well as the measures taken by the Chinese side on December 3 through its Permanent Mission to the United Nations in Vienna and requested the Secretary-General to circulate the information to all States Parties.
“The US claims to be a strong advocate for the concept of “responsible behavior in outer space”, but it disregarded its Treaty obligations and posed a grave threat to the safety of astronauts. This is typical double standard,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian told reporters here today. “Exploration and peaceful uses of outer space is a common cause of all humanity. Guided by the vision of advancing the welfare of all, China is committed to peaceful uses of space,” he added.
The China Manned Space Programme had completed five launch missions in 2021, with the successful launching into orbit of the Tianhe core module of the China Space Station, the Tianzhou-II and Tianzhou-III cargo spacecraft and the Shenzhou-XII and Shenzhou-XIII crewed spacecraft. The two close encounters had taken place during this period.
– global bihari bureau
