don't politicize space exploration
the simulated image shows china's space station lab module mengtian after completing in-orbit transposition. (photo: xinhua)
by qi liming
the european space agency (esa) won't be sending astronauts to china's tiangong space station. that's according to esa director general josef aschbacher, speaking at a press briefing held in paris lately.
aschbacher claimed that the agency does not have the budgetary capacity to send its astronauts to china's space station. meanwhile the bbc reported that aschbacher said on january 16 that he has had a two billion euro increase in funding.
for now, let's not question the lack of funds, but look deeper at this issue: can humanity's exploration into space succeed? what is the blueprint for the vast universe? and what should we, as earth natives, do to bring more possibilities to humankind when making new journeys to the stars?
perhaps the answers are varied, but we all know a simple truth and have benefited from it countless times: many hands make light work.
according to space website, there are many exchanges and projects between esa's astronauts and chinese taikonauts. for example, in order to prepare its astronauts for possible missions to china's three-module tiangong space station, esa's samantha cristoforetti and matthias maurer conducted nine days of survival training with 16 of their chinese counterparts in the yellow sea in august 2017. and, in the previous year, chinese astronaut ye guangfu took part in esa's caving course on the italian island of sardinia.
"both activities stem from the 2015 agreement to boost collaboration between esa and the china manned space agency, with the goal of flying european astronauts on the chinese space station from 2022," esa officials wrote in a 2017 press release. in light of this, esa should not now go back on its word.
according to astronomy magazine, a new era in space is unfolding. the tiangong station is beginning its life, while the international space station is set to be decommissioned by 2030 after more than 30 years in orbit.
no matter how esa decides, human exploration of space won't be suspended and it's unwise to politicize science, which is vital to the destiny of humankind. china has reiterated on many occasions that it is open to space exchanges and cooperation, and to make better use of space technology for the interests of all people around the world.
