Abstract
On 27 December 2016, the Information Office of China’ State Council released the new version of the country’s 5-year policy guidelines for national space activities. Published in the form of a government White Paper, the document highlights the major developments of the past 5 years (2011–2015) and provides a comprehensive description of the programmatic intentions for the sector over the period 2016–2020.
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Notes
- 1.
In this 11,000 words document, the word “security” is mentioned only three times, while the word “military” or “dual use” finds no trace at all.
- 2.
China already operates five dedicated series of EO satellites, namely, the Fengyun (wind and cloud) series for meteorology; the Haiyang (ocean) series for oceanography and maritime observation; the Ziyuan (resources) series for natural resource monitoring; the Gaofen (high resolution) series for near-real-time geographical mapping, climate change monitoring, environmental surveying and precision agriculture; and the Yaogan (remote sensing) series for disaster management and surveillance operations combining optical, radar and electronic intelligence signals.
- 3.
Shijian (literally, “practice”) is a scientific and technology demonstrator satellite series started in the 1970s.
- 4.
The operative language in the 2016 document reads as follows, “China’s space industry is subject to and serves the national overall development strategy, and adheres to the principles of innovative, coordinated, peaceful and open development”, while in the 2011 paper reads as follows: “China’s space industry is subject to and serves the national overall development strategy, and adheres to the principles of independent, peaceful, innovative, and open development”.
- 5.
Interestingly, these measures call for rationally arranging national space activities; enhancing space-related innovation ecosystem; upgrading space industry capacity; accelerating satellite application industry; improving a system of diverse funding for space activities by, i.e. increasing cooperation with private investors; strengthening the training of professionals for the space industry; and disseminating knowledge about space science.
- 6.
Zhonghe Guoli refers to the total sum of strengths of a country in economy, military affairs, science and technology, education and resource and its influence.
- 7.
Robert S. Walker is former chairman of the US House Science, Space and Technology Committee, former chairman of the Commission on the Future of the US Aerospace Industry and senior policy adviser to the Trump campaign.
- 8.
The last official US National Space Policy paper was released in 2010.
- 9.
Robert Walker intervention during a panel discussion at a meeting of the FAA Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee (COMSTAC), 26 Oct. 2016
- 10.
Foust, Jeff. “Next steps for space policy.” 14 Nov. 2016. TheSpaceReview. Accessed 16 Jan. 2017. Web: <http://www.thespacereview.com/article/3105/1>.
- 11.
“About the Technology Research Programme (TRP).” 9 Feb. 2017. ESA 15 Feb. 2017. <http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Engineering_Technology/Shaping_the_Future/About_the_Technology_Research_Programme_TRP>.
- 12.
European Space Agency (ESA) Ministerial Meeting (December 2nd 2014). Resolution on Europe’s space exploration strategy. ESA/C-M/CCXLVII/Res. 2 (Final) of 2nd December 2014, Luxembourg. <http://esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/corporate/Final_resolutions_1_2_3_from_CM_2014_Releasable_to_the_public.pdf>.
- 13.
The USA, for instance, does not believe that a delimitation is necessary, stating that the absence of such a law has yet to cause problems, which stands in stark contrast to the views of Russia and China who are adamant about reaching a comprehensively developed international agreement on the matter. European nations like France or Germany, for example, do not currently support deviation from the status quo.
- 14.
- 15.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration Transition Authorization Act of 2017. <https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/442/text>.
- 16.
An alternative architecture for deep space exploration using SLS and Orion, Ari Allyn-Freuer, The Space Review, April 17, 2017. <http://www.thespacereview.com/article/3220/1>.
- 17.
Selling the Gateway, Frank Morring. Jr., Aviation Week & Space Technology, p. 22, 17–30 April 2017.
- 18.
Communication on a Space Strategy for Europe; 26 Oct. 2016. <https://ec.europa.eu/transparency/regdoc/rep/1/.../COM-2016-705-F1-EN-MAIN.PD>.
- 19.
Foust, Jeff. “All booked: Virgin Galactic says suborbital spaceflights are full until 2021.” 19 May 2017. SpaceNews. Accessed 6 June 2017. <http://spacenews.com/all-booked-virgin-galactic-says-suborbital-spaceflights-are-full-until-2021/>.
- 20.
ESA. “Test site for ESA-backed airbreathing engine.” 4 May 2017. Accessed 6 June 2017. <http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Engineering_Technology/Test_site_for_ESA-backed_airbreathing_engine>.
- 21.
Foust, Jeff. “Blue Origin joins NASA’s suborbital research flight program.” 3 June 2016. SpaceNews. Accessed 6 June 2017. <http://spacenews.com/blue-origin-joins-nasas-suborbital-research-flight-program/>.
- 22.
United Nations Committee on Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNCOPUOS), Questions on suborbital flights for scientific missions and/or for human transportation. UN Doc A/AC.105/1039/Add.7 of 19 Dec 2016, Vienna, United Nations.
- 23.
FAA. “Memorandum of Cooperation in the development of Commercial Space Transportation’.” 30 June 2016. <https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/programs/international_affairs/media/Memorandum_of_Cooperation_FAA_Italy_ENAC.pdf>.
- 24.
ASI. “A spaceport in Italy?” 30 June 2016. Accessed 6 June 2017. <http://www.asi.it/en/news/a-spaceport-in-italy>.
- 25.
Spacetug-based disposal service: the spacetug docks with the satellite and moves it to a disposal orbit enabling the satellite to use the share of fuel that is usually saved for end-of-life operations.
- 26.
Spacetug-based station-keeping service: the spacetug docks with the satellite and takes over the attitude and orbit control of the combined vehicle, ensuring station-keeping for the satellite.
- 27.
Satellite refuelling: the spacetug docks with the satellite and refuels it.
- 28.
MEV-1 will provide life extension services in the form of spacetug-based station-keeping.
- 29.
“Orbital ATK on Track to Launch Industry’s First Commercial In-Space Satellite Servicing System in 2018.” 24 Jan. 2017. Orbital ATK 1 Oct. 2017. <https://www.orbitalatk.com/news-room/feature-stories/MEV/default.aspx?prid=92>.
- 30.
“SES and MDA Announce First Satellite Life Extension Agreement.” 28 June 2017. SES 1 Oct. 2017. <https://www.ses.com/press-release/ses-and-mda-announce-firstsatellite-life-extension-agreement>.
- 31.
Bates, Philip. “The Business case for satellite life extension: running on empty.” 13 July 2016. Analysis Mason 1 Oct. 2017. <http://www.analysysmason.com/AboutUs/News/Newsletter/Satellite-life-extension-Jul2016/>.
- 32.
Ibid.
- 33.
“Towards a standardized grasping and refuelling on-orbit servicing for geo spacecraft.” 19 Jan. 2017. Acta Astronautica 1 Oct. 2017. <https://nereus.mech.ntua.gr/Documents/pdf_ps/AA17.pdf>
- 34.
“High Level SRC Roadmap.” 21 May 2015. H2020 Peraspera 1 Oct. 2017. <http://www.h2020-peraspera.eu/?page_id=32>.
- 35.
Henry, Caleb. “MDA restarts satellite servicing business with SES as first customer.” 29 June 2017. SpaceNews 1 Oct. 2017. <http://spacenews.com/mda-restarts-satelliteservice-business-with-ses-as-first-customer/>.
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Burger, E., Bordacchini, G. (2019). ESPI Thought Papers on Selected 2017 and 2018 Developments. In: Yearbook on Space Policy 2017. Yearbook on Space Policy. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-05417-5_3
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