TCSS Security Commentaries #041

Kamil Golemo PhD Candidate UMCS (Poland), research intern TCSS

The Chang’e mission, spearheaded by China’s National Space Administration, represents a significant stride in lunar exploration and a testament to the rapid advancement of China’s space capabilities. The recent launch of the Chang’e-6 mission, aiming to collect samples from the moon’s far side, underscores the nation’s ambition to become a leading space power.

Flight of the Long March 5 with the Chang’e 6 mission payload.

Source: https://news.cctv.com/2024/05/03/ARTIBxXqiTOS8PnXLG65dXpi240503.shtml

The Chang’e 6 mission, part of the Chinese Lunar Exploration Program, is a landmark endeavor in space exploration, aiming to collect and return lunar samples from the far side of the Moon. This mission follows the success of Chang’e 5, which brought back lunar samples from the near side of the Moon. The chosen landing site for the Chang’e 6 mission is within the Apollo crater, located in the southern hemisphere of the lunar far side, a region never visible from Earth due to the Moon’s synchronous rotation. The lander successfully reaches the lunar surface, deployed a drill and scoop to collect around 2 kilograms of samples.

Communication with the far side of the Moon is facilitated by the Queqiao-2 relay satellite, equipped with a large radio antenna, which was launched prior to the mission to establish a communication link between Earth and Chang’e 6. This satellite is crucial for the success of the mission, as it allows for the transmission of commands and data between the lander and Earth-based control centers.

The Chang’e 6 mission is a testament to international collaboration in space exploration. The mission’s complexity is underscored by its multi-component architecture, consisting of an orbiter, lander, ascender, and relay satellite. Notably, the mission is enriched by contributions from various countries: France’s DORN instrument for detecting radon, Sweden’s (Negative Ions at the Lunar Surface) NILS payload supported by ESA, and Italy’s laser retro-reflector. Additionally, a student-built cubesat named “ICUBE-Q” represents a collaborative effort between Pakistan’s SUPARCO and China’s Shanghai Jiao Tong University, highlighting the global nature of this endeavor.

The broader implications of the Chang’e mission extend to the international arena, where a renewed interest in lunar exploration has ignited a competitive spirit among spacefaring nations. This competitive dynamic is reminiscent of the historical space race, yet it unfolds in a context where collaboration and shared scientific objectives are increasingly valued. The Chang’e-6 mission’s objective to return samples from the moon’s far side, a feat not yet achieved by any other nation, could provide insights into the moon’s early history and offer clues about the solar system’s formation.

The dynamics of international space exploration and competition have become increasingly complex and strategic. The formation of a coalition between China and Russia signifies a shift in the geopolitical landscape, challenging the United States to reassess its position and strategy in the space domain. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson’s said in 2023 that USA is in a space race “And it is true that we better watch out that they don’t get to a place on the moon under the guise of scientific research. And it is not beyond the realm of possibility that they say, ‘Keep out, we’re here, this is our territory.” His concerns reflect the high stakes involved in the new space race, where the timing and manner of achieving space exploration goals could influence future access and rights in outer space.

China’s spaceflight achievements over the past two decades showcase a strategic and persistent pursuit of space exploration. In 2003, China became the third country to independently send humans to space with the successful launch of Shenzhou 5. The Chang’e lunar exploration program marked another milestone with Chang’e 3 landing on the Moon in 2013, deploying the Yutu rover. More recently, the Tianwen-1 mission in 2021 successfully placed a rover on Mars, making China the second country to achieve this feat. These accomplishments, among others, reflect China’s growing capabilities and ambitions in space over the past two decades. This strategic foresight has allowed China to meet its milestones effectively, positioning itself as a formidable player in the narrative of space exploration.

The international community faces the challenge of balancing the aspirations of individual nations with the collective goal of peaceful space exploration. As countries like the U.S., China, and Russia continue to advance their space capabilities, the dialogue surrounding space governance, collaboration, and competition becomes ever more critical. It is within this intricate tapestry of national interests, technological progress, and diplomatic relations that the future of humanity’s endeavors in space will be woven. The outcome of this new space race will not only shape the trajectory of space exploration but also the geopolitical relationships here on Earth. The pursuit of space, inherently bound to the human spirit of discovery, now carries implications that transcend beyond our planet, echoing into the vast expanse of the cosmos. Kamil Golemo is a 2nd year PhD Candidate at the Maria Skłodowska-Curie University (Poland) and research intern at the Taiwan Center for Security Studies. He is a fellow of the project entitled “UMCS Doctoral Schools – Your Success in Globalized World of Science” within the STER Programme Internationalization of Doctoral Schools created by the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange.

Kamil Golemo is a 2nd year PhD Candidate at the Maria Skłodowska-Curie University (Poland) and research intern at the Taiwan Center for Security Studies. He is a fellow of the project entitled “UMCS
Doctoral Schools – Your Success in Globalized World of Science” within the STER Programme Internationalization of Doctoral Schools created by the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange.