Space – the final frontier or the next big test of global teamwork? 🚀
This month, top leaders from the European Space Agency and major EU research centres joined a candid roundtable to unpack Europe’s role as a go-between in the US–Chinese mainland space race.
Former ESA director general Jean-Jacques Dordain set the tone: “We are the crew of Planet Earth. The future of humanity is our common interest.” 🌍
Why Europe?
EU space programmes are known for bringing diverse nations together. Unlike the US and the Chinese mainland, Europe often stays neutral on geopolitical tensions, focusing on science and innovation. That trust makes the EU a natural mediator.
East meets West in orbit
- Collaboration boost: joint satellite projects could improve climate monitoring across Asia, from Himalayan glaciers to Indonesian rainforests.
- Data sharing: open-access platforms mean researchers in Delhi, Jakarta and beyond get real-time insights into weather patterns.
- Tech exchange: Europe’s experience with reusable launchers can help both powers cut costs and carbon footprints.
Tianwen-3: China’s breakthrough?
Experts highlighted the Tianwen-3 Mars sample return mission as potentially the most revolutionary breakthrough of the next decade. If completed, it could be the first time rocks from Mars touch Earth. 🌖🪨
Why it matters for you: analysing Mars samples could unlock clues about past water, and maybe even life, shaping future space tech and inspiring the next gen of engineers across South and Southeast Asia.
The next steps
Europe is calling on Washington and Beijing to take small but significant steps: share more data, coordinate launch schedules and keep communication lines open. 🤝
As one leader put it, “Only by working together can we tackle big challenges like climate change, asteroid threats and deep-space exploration.”
For young professionals in our region, space diplomacy is more than politics—it’s about building a sustainable, connected future for everyone. Ready for lift-off? ✨
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
