China has invited all member-states of the United Nations to jointly utilise its future space station expected to be ready by 2022.
The China Space Station (CSS), which is expected to be launched by 2019 and become operational by 2022, will be the world’s first space station open for cooperation with all U.N. member-states, the official Chinese media reported on Thursday.
According to Chinese analysts, by 2024, the CSS will be the only one in operation as the International Space Station (ISS) is set to complete its lifespan by that time.
The invitation to all the countries to jointly use the space station further shows China’s unwavering belief that outer space is a common home for all humanity rather than a new battlefield, state-run Global Times reported.
All countries, regardless of their size and level of development, are invited to explore cooperation with China aboard the CSS, ranging from growing a plant in space to accommodating an astronaut, Shi Zhongjun, China’s ambassador to the U.N., and other international organisations in Vienna told state-run Xinhua news agency.
'More than a friendly nature'
The announcement was more than a friendly gesture. It is the strongest message so far against the worrying rhetoric that the outer space is a new front line for competition and confrontation, the report said.
Opening up China’s future space station to the world will reinforce international cooperation for the peaceful use of outer space, said United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) director Simonetta Di Pippo.
In cooperation with the UNOOSA, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) will utilise the CSS to promote international cooperation in manned space flight and exploration, providing flight experiments and space application opportunities on board the space station for the UN member states.
This is an agreement which will allow the entire world to use, for scientific purposes, the China Space Station when it will be ready,” Ms. Pippo said.
“It’s the first time it is open to all member-states,” she said.
