Lunar rock samples: Chinese space agency calls on US to ‘remove obstacles’ to cooperation
- Scientists from around the world are welcome to study samples from the far side of the moon brought back by Chang’e-6 probe, officials say
Scientists worldwide were encouraged “to jointly carry out scientific research on lunar samples and data”, Bian Zhigang, vice-administrator of the China National Space Administration (CNSA), said on Thursday.
Asked at a press conference in Beijing whether scientists from the US wanted to take part in that research, Bian said: “I believe they do.”
“[But] if the US really wants to have normal space exchanges with China, I think they should take practical measures to remove obstacles” that limit cooperation, he said.
“The root cause of the obstacles … lies in domestic laws such as the Wolf Amendment of the United States, which hinder Sino-US space cooperation.”
The Wolf Amendment, which was passed in 2011, prohibits the American space agency from using government funds to engage in direct space cooperation with China without explicit permission from Congress.
