China is now asking the United States for protection against possible satellite threats. The Asian country called out the American government after its space station was allegedly endangered by SpaceX's Starlink satellites.
A Long March 2F rocket carrying the country's first space laboratory module Tiangong-1 prepares to lift off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on September 29, 2011 in Jiuquan, Gansu province of China. The unmanned Tiangong-1 will stay in orbit for two years and dock with China's Shenzhou-8, -9 and -10 spacecraft with the eventual goal.
I confirmed the Starlink/Chinese Space Station conjunctions on Jul 1 at 1315 UTC (S-1095) and Oct 21 at 2200 UTC (S-2305), with CSS orbit adjustmets at about 0950 UTC Jul 1 and 0316 UTC Oct 21. The Oct passes shown here: pic.twitter.com/DmbIucpRPF
— Jonathan McDowell (@planet4589) December 28, 2021
Recently, the Chinese government and Elon Musk's space agency had some conflict after some Starlink cube sats flew near China's space station, Tiangong.
As reported by Space News, the giant space laboratory was forced to conduct emergency maneuvers to avoid the satellites nearing its location.
"I confirmed the Starlink/Chinese Space Station conjunctions on Jul 1 at 1315 UTC (S-1095) and Oct 21 at 2200 UTC (S-2305), with CSS orbit adjustments at about 0950 UTC Jul 1 and 0316 UTC Oct 21," said Jonathan McDowell, one of the satellite experts at Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.
China Asks US to Protect Tiangong Space Station
According to ABC News' latest report, the Chinese government demands immediate safety measures from the U.S. China explained that extra preventive actions are needed to keep their space station safe from other satellite incidents.
People gather to look at China's Long March 2-F rocket, which will take the Tiangong-1 space module into space, as it is rolled out onto a launch platform at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in the northwestern province of Gansu on September 20, 2011. China said it will launch its Tiangong-1 space module later September.
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Chinese spokesperson Zhao Lijian claimed that the United States failed to carry out its obligations in the 1967 treaty. He added that the U.S. could not ensure the safety of the Chinese astronauts currently stationed at Tiangong.
As of the moment, the American Embassy in Beijing hasn't commented on the demand of China when it comes to protecting its space station.
SpaceX to Continue Launching Starlinks Despite the Issue
Right now, the issue of China and SpaceX is still unresolved. Although this is the case, Musk's space agency will still continue building its artificial satellite constellation.
Recently, the independent company already launched additional 52 Starlink cube sats back on Dec. 18. SpaceX plans to send 2,000 satellites to provide internet service to underserved areas in the upcoming months.
In other news, a SpaceX Starlink satellite was installed on top of WordPress founder's RV. Meanwhile, NASA finally allowed Axiom to launch its first private mission.
For more news updates about China's space station and other related topics, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.
Related Article: SpaceX's Starlink Satellites Endanger Chinese Astronauts, Beijing Complains; Evasive Maneuvers Were Forcibly Conducted
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Written by: Griffin Davis
