U.S. satellites approached the Chinese space station twice, the Foreign Ministry responded

On December 28, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian presided over a regular press conference. A reporter asked a question, and the official website of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space released a message saying that on December 3, the Chinese Permanent Mission to the United Nations and other international organizations in Vienna sent a note verbale to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, informing them that the Starlink satellite launched by the US Space Exploration Technology Corporation (SpaceX) has approached the Chinese space station twice this year, posing a threat to the lives and health of astronauts carried by the Chinese space station. Can the spokesperson confirm that? Previously, as a party to the Outer Space Treaty, what international responsibilities should the United States bear for related activities?

Zhao Lijian said that I can responsibly confirm to you that in July and October this year, the Starlink satellite launched by the US Space Exploration Technology Company approached the Chinese space station twice. During this period, Chinese astronauts are on missions inside the space station. For safety reasons, the Chinese space station has taken emergency collision avoidance measures.

Yu Xiaoqing Shi Hanwei Editor Zhu Yingjun Wang Yunwei Luo Xueying

Zhao Lijian introduced that the 1967 Outer Space Treaty is recognized as the cornerstone of current international law in the field of outer space. The Treaty stipulates that astronauts are envoys sent to outer space by all mankind, and states shall respect and protect the safety of astronauts and notify the Secretary-General of the United Nations or other States parties of phenomena found in outer space that pose a danger to the life or health of astronauts. States should also be held accountable for all outer space activities of their domestic private companies. In order to fulfill its treaty obligations and safeguard the safety of astronauts' lives, the Chinese Government, through the Permanent Mission of China in Vienna, informed the Secretary-General of the United Nations on the above-mentioned dangerous situation and the measures taken by the Chinese side on December 3, and requested the Secretary-General to inform the States parties.

In conclusion, Zhao Lijian stressed that the United States claims the concept of so-called responsible outer space behavior, but it ignores the obligations of international treaties in outer space, posing a serious threat to the safety of astronauts' lives, which is a typical double standard.

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According to the note verbale from the Permanent Mission of China to the United Nations (Vienna) dated December 3, 2021 (document number: A/AC.105/1262), the US Starlink satellite approached the Chinese space station twice in July and October this year.

The first emergency collision avoidance Starlink-1095 satellite has been operating stably on an orbit with an average altitude of about 555 kilometers since April 19, 2020. From May 16 to June 24, 2021, the satellite continued to de-orbit maneuver to an average orbital altitude of 382 kilometers, and remained operating at that orbital altitude. On July 1, the satellite experienced a close-up event between the Chinese space station. For safety reasons, the Chinese space station took the initiative to avoid collisions on the evening of July 1, avoiding the risk of collision between the two targets.

On October 21, 2021, the Starlink-2305 satellite had a close-quarters approach incident with the Chinese space station. Given that the satellite is in a continuous orbit maneuver, the maneuvering strategy is unknown and the orbital error cannot be assessed, and there is a risk of collision with the space station. In order to ensure the safety of astronauts in orbit, the Chinese space station once again implemented emergency collision avoidance on the same day, avoiding the risk of collision between the two targets.

The note points out that China requests the Secretary-General of the United Nations to inform the States parties to the Outer Space Treaty of the above-mentioned situation and to draw the attention of the States parties to the fact that, in accordance with article 6 of the Outer Space Treaty, "each State Party shall bear international responsibility for its activities in outer space, including the moon and other celestial bodies, whether by government departments or non-governmental organizations, and shall be responsible for ensuring that the implementation of its activities complies with the provisions of this Treaty." ”

Source: The Paper, China Aerospace News, Ministry of Foreign Affairs website

Editor: Wang Yu

Review: Julie

Final Judge: Liu Haiying