Latest news with #JohnLogsdon
Express Tribune
25-04-2025
- Science
- Express Tribune
China opens moon rock samples to US amid trade war
Listen to article China has granted scientists from six countries, including the United States, access to lunar samples collected by its Chang'e-5 mission, marking a rare instance of scientific cooperation between Beijing and Washington despite ongoing trade disputes. The China National Space Administration (CNSA) said on Thursday that researchers from two NASA-funded American institutions — Brown University and Stony Brook University — would be allowed to study the Moon rocks, which were retrieved in 2020. Institutions in France, Germany, Japan, Pakistan and the UK also secured approval to examine the samples. The CNSA's chief, Shan Zhongde, described the lunar material as 'a shared treasure for all humanity,' according to state-run media. He added that China aims to expand international cooperation in space exploration under its Belt and Road Initiative. The US has long prohibited NASA from working with Chinese space entities without explicit approval from Congress. The 2011 Wolf Amendment restricts bilateral cooperation due to national security concerns, effectively barring Chinese scientists from accessing US-collected lunar samples. John Logsdon, former director of the Space Policy Institute at George Washington University, informed that the exchange of Moon samples have "very little to do with politics". 'This is international cooperation in science, which is the norm,' he said. 'It has nothing of military significance.' Logsdon also noted that the Chang'e-5 samples are particularly valuable because they appear to be a billion years younger than those collected during the Apollo missions. This could suggest more recent volcanic activity on the Moon than previously thought. Efforts by US and Chinese space officials to directly exchange lunar material reportedly stalled last year, but the approval of international study applications signals a shift towards openness. Despite high tariffs on both sides — with US duties on Chinese imports reaching up to 245% and China retaliating with 125% tariffs — scientific engagement remains a rare bright spot. 'I believe China's circle of friends in space will continue to grow,' said Shan.
Saudi Gazette
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
China shares rare Moon rocks with US despite trade war
SINGAPORE — China will let scientists from six countries, including the US, examine the rocks it collected from the Moon — a scientific collaboration that comes as the two countries remain locked in a bitter trade war. Two Nasa-funded US institutions have been granted access to the lunar samples collected by the Chang'e-5 mission in 2020, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) said on Thursday. CNSA chief Shan Zhongde said that the samples were "a shared treasure for all humanity," local media reported. Chinese researchers have not been able to access Nasa's Moon samples because of restrictions imposed by US lawmakers on the space agency's collaboration with China. Under the 2011 law, Nasa is banned from collaboration with China or any Chinese-owned companies unless it is specifically authorised by Congress. But John Logsdon, the former director of the Space Policy Institute at George Washington University, told BBC Newshour that the latest exchange of Moon rocks have "very little to do with politics". While there are controls on space technology, the examination of lunar samples had "nothing of military significance", he said. "It's international cooperation in science which is the norm." Washington has imposed tariffs Chinese goods that go up to 245%, while Beijing has hit back with 125% tariffs on US goods. US President Donald Trump previously hinted at a de-escalation in the trade war, but Beijing has denied that there were negotiations between the two sides. In 2023, the CNSA put out a call for applications to study its Chang'e-5 moon samples. What's special about the Chang'e-5 Moon samples is that they "seem to be a billion years younger" than those collected from Apollo missions, Dr Logsdon said. "So it suggests that volcanic activity went on in the moon more recently than people had thought". Space officials from the US and China had reportedly tried to negotiate an exchange of moon samples last year, but it appears the deal did not materialize. Besides Brown University and Stony Brook University in the US, the other winning bids came from institutions in France, Germany, Japan, Pakistan, and the UK. Shan, from the CNSA, said the agency will "maintain an increasingly active and open stance" in international space exchange and cooperation, including along the space information corridor under the Belt and Road Initiative "I believe China's circle of friends in space will continue to grow," he said. — BBC
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
China shares rare Moon rocks with US despite trade war
China will let scientists from six countries, including the US, examine the rocks it collected from the Moon - a scientific collaboration that comes as the two countries remain locked in a bitter trade war. Two Nasa-funded US institutions have been granted access to the lunar samples collected by the Chang'e-5 mission in 2020, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) said on Thursday. CNSA chief Shan Zhongde said that the samples were "a shared treasure for all humanity," local media reported. Chinese researchers have not been able to access Nasa's Moon samples because of restrictions imposed by US lawmakers on the space agency's collaboration with China. Under the 2011 law, Nasa is banned from collaboration with China or any Chinese-owned companies unless it is specifically authorised by Congress. But John Logsdon, the former director of the Space Policy Institute at George Washington University, told BBC Newshour that the latest exchange of Moon rocks have "very little to do with politics". While there are controls on space technology, the examination of lunar samples had "nothing of military significance", he said. "It's international cooperation in science which is the norm." Washington has imposed tariffs Chinese goods that go up to 245%, while Beijing has hit back with 125% tariffs on US goods. US President Donald Trump previously hinted at a de-escalation in the trade war, but Beijing has denied that there were negotiations between the two sides. In 2023, the CNSA put out a call for applications to study its Chang'e-5 moon samples. What's special about the Chang'e-5 Moon samples is that they "seem to be a billion years younger" than those collected from Apollo missions, Dr Logsdon said. "So it suggests that volcanic activity went on in the moon more recently than people had thought". Space officials from the US and China had reportedly tried to negotiate an exchange of moon samples last year - but it appears the deal did not materialise. Besides Brown University and Stony Brook University in the US, the other winning bids came from institutions in France, Germany, Japan, Pakistan, the UK. Shan, from the CNSA, said the agency will "maintain an increasingly active and open stance" in international space exchange and cooperation, including along the space information corridor under the Belt and Road Initiative "I believe China's circle of friends in space will continue to grow," he said.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
China shares rare Moon rocks with US despite trade war
China will let scientists from six countries, including the US, examine the rocks it collected from the Moon - a scientific collaboration that comes as the two countries remain locked in a bitter trade war. Two Nasa-funded US institutions have been granted access to the lunar samples collected by the Chang'e-5 mission in 2020, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) said on Thursday. CNSA chief Shan Zhongde said that the samples were "a shared treasure for all humanity," local media reported. Chinese researchers have not been able to access Nasa's Moon samples because of restrictions imposed by US lawmakers on the space agency's collaboration with China. Under the 2011 law, Nasa is banned from collaboration with China or any Chinese-owned companies unless it is specifically authorised by Congress. But John Logsdon, the former director of the Space Policy Institute at George Washington University, told BBC Newshour that the latest exchange of Moon rocks have "very little to do with politics". While there are controls on space technology, the examination of lunar samples had "nothing of military significance", he said. "It's international cooperation in science which is the norm." Washington has imposed tariffs Chinese goods that go up to 245%, while Beijing has hit back with 125% tariffs on US goods. US President Donald Trump previously hinted at a de-escalation in the trade war, but Beijing has denied that there were negotiations between the two sides. In 2023, the CNSA put out a call for applications to study its Chang'e-5 moon samples. What's special about the Chang'e-5 Moon samples is that they "seem to be a billion years younger" than those collected from Apollo missions, Dr Logsdon said. "So it suggests that volcanic activity went on in the moon more recently than people had thought". Space officials from the US and China had reportedly tried to negotiate an exchange of moon samples last year - but it appears the deal did not materialise. Besides Brown University and Stony Brook University in the US, the other winning bids came from institutions in France, Germany, Japan, Pakistan, the UK. Shan, from the CNSA, said the agency will "maintain an increasingly active and open stance" in international space exchange and cooperation, including along the space information corridor under the Belt and Road Initiative "I believe China's circle of friends in space will continue to grow," he said.
BBC News
25-04-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
China shares rare moon rocks with US despite trade tensions
China will let scientists from six countries, including the US, examine the rocks it collected from the moon - a scientific collaboration that comes as the two countries remain locked in a bitter trade Nasa-funded US institutions have been granted access to the lunar samples collected by the Chang'e-5 mission in 2020, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) said on chief Shan Zhongde said that the samples were "a shared treasure for all humanity," local media researchers have not been able to access Nasa's moon samples because of restrictions imposed by US lawmakers on the space agency's collaboration with China. Under the 2011 law, Nasa is banned from collaboration with China or any Chinese-owned companies unless it is specifically authorised by Congress. But John Logsdon, the former director of the Space Policy Institute at George Washington University, told BBC Newshour that the latest exchange of moon rocks have "very little to do with politics".While there are controls on space technology, the examination of lunar samples had "nothing of military significance", he said. "It's international cooperation in science which is the norm."Washington has imposed tariffs Chinese goods that go up to 245%, while Beijing has hit back with 125% tariffs on US goods. US President Donald Trump previously hinted at a de-escalation in the trade war, but Beijing has denied that there were negotiations between the two 2023, the CNSA put out a call for applications to study its Chang'e-5 moon special about the Chang'e-5 moon samples is that they "seem to be a billion years younger" than those collected from Apollo missions, Dr Logsdon said. "So it suggests that volcanic activity went on in the moon more recently than people had thought".Space officials from the US and China had reportedly tried to negotiate an exchange of moon samples last year - but it appears the deal did not Brown University and Stony Brook University in the US, the other winning bids came from institutions in France, Germany, Japan, Pakistan, the from the CNSA, said the agency will "maintain an increasingly active and open stance" in international space exchange and cooperation, including along the space information corridor under the Belt and Road Initiative"I believe China's circle of friends in space will continue to grow," he said.
