NASA Administrator Bill Nelson claims that China could ban the U.S. from visiting the moon.
(Photo : Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) and NASA Administrator Charles Bolden (L) hold a news conference to introduce the design of the new Space Launch System on Capitol Hill September 14, 2011 in Washington, DC.
As of writing, the Chinese government hasn't completed any manned missions to the moon.
Before it sends taikonauts to the surface of Earth's natural satellite, China plans to conduct three unmanned lunar missions over the next 10 years.
Although it will take many years before Chinese astronauts can step on the moon's surface, NASA is now concerned about China's moon ambitions.
China Could Ban US From Visiting Moon?
According to The Daily Mail UK's latest report, Bill Nelson and other NASA officials shared why they are concerned regarding China's moon ambitions.
(Photo : Photo by STR/AFP via Getty Images)
A Long March 5B rocket lifts off from the the Wenchang launch site on China's southern Hainan island on May 5, 2020. - Chinese state media reported the "successful" launch of a new rocket on May 5, a major test of its ambitions to operate a permanent space station and send astronauts to the Moon.
Nelson explained that China could block U.S. astronauts from visiting the Moon by cornerning the market on resource-ruch locations on the lunar surface.
The NASA official further stated that he and other officials are worried that the Chinese government would claim the territory over the Moon once they reach the natural satellite.
"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," said Nelson.
Bill even claimed that China could copy the strategy it used to claim the land and water in the South China Sea.
What International Space Law Says
The official international space law reiterates that no nation can own space, as well as the heavenly bodies.
These include the Moon, the sun, other planets, and space bodies outside the solar system.
Aside from this, here are other rules that international space law implements:
- Weapons of mass destruction are forbidden in orbit and beyond, and the Moon, the planets, and other celestial bodies can only be used for peaceful purposes.
- Nations are responsible for damage caused by their space objects and must avoid contaminating space and celestial bodies.
- Space activities benefit all nations, and any country is free to explore orbit and beyond.
For the past few years, all countries have been free to explore outer space.
As of press time, numerous space launches and other out-of-this-world activities are being conducted.
Recently, NASA HiRISE captured a gorgeous, mysterious crater on Mars.
We also reported that the 60th Falcon 9 rocket mission was completed by SpaceX.
For more news updates about space, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.
Related Article: NASA Administrator Bill Nelson Is Confident That the US Will Beat China in the Race to the Moon
