US, China consulted on safety as their crafts headed to Mars

As their respective spacecrafts headed to Mars, China and the U.S. held consultations earlier this yr in a considerably uncommon sequence of exchanges between the rivals.

China’s Nationwide House Company confirmed Wednesday that it had working-level conferences and communications with NASA from January to March “to make sure the flight security” of their crafts.

U.S. legislation bans nearly all contacts between NASA and China over issues about know-how theft and the secretive, military-backed nature of China’s area program.

Nonetheless, exceptions will be made when NASA can certify to Congress that it has protections in place to safeguard data, appearing NASA Administrator Steve Jurczyk stated throughout a video assembly final week.

Jurczyk stated the newest alternate was about China offering orbital and different information for its Mars mission so they may analyze the danger of collision. “We do have focused engagement with them,” he stated.

His remarks had been first reported by the SpaceNews web site.

Jurczyk added that will probably be as much as the Biden administration and Congress to find out if and the way the U.S. engages with China on non-military area actions as a part of the nation’s total China technique.

“Because the administration and Congress units these insurance policies, we sit up for how we will contribute in respect to civil area dialogue and collaboration with China,” he stated.

The world round Mars has grow to be a bit extra crowded this yr with the arrival of spacecraft from the U.S., China and the U.A.E.

NASA’s Perseverance rover landed on Mars in February and has begun exploration. China’s Tianwen-1 is orbiting Mars in preparation for a touchdown in Might or June. The U.A.E. craft is barely orbiting and won’t try to land.

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