The Turning Point of Europe-China Cooperation in Space

Last week, a major announcement from ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher during a press conference reshuffled crewed spaceflight in LEO. It now seems that ESA no longer plans to send astronauts to China's recently assembled Tiangong Space Station. We cover this topic in this episode, as well as the ramifications for China.

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Credits for various visuals: ESA, NASA, Lockheed Martin, Nanoracks, CASC, CCTV, CGTN, CNSA, CMSA

[enkianu]

China will continue its space exploration on its own without any problem, that's for sure. Whether any country will join, the benefits are for all. Nothing to lose for China here.

[BabaYaga]

With or without NASA and ESA, China still has a space station up there. Nothing to lose.

[JD-yzkr]

It is good news for the world. Now that ESA is out of the way, maybe China will prioritize space cooperation with the rest of the world, especially astronaut training for the other countries of the world ignored by the US & EU, like African, ASEAN or South American countries.

[oneplanetearth]

Happy Chinese New Year DongFang Channel ✌✌✌

[HTeo-oglg]

Henry Kissinger: "To be an enemy of the US is dangerous, to be a friend is fatal."
Nelson Mandela: "Why must you insist that your enemy must also be my enemy? When both my friends are fighting each other, I do not take sides." (Because they are both my friends. For if I take sides, I would already shown not to be a real friend of one or the other.)

[antiimperialism]

EU has became the 51st state of the Imperialist.

[MetaView]

This is definitely a piece of sad news. I too believe the Americans have a hand in this. It is understandable; the Americans are short on money, and they want the whole ESA pie to themselves. This will be a good opportunity for the Middle East and African countries.

[jeffreyschweitzer]

Disappointing and shortsighted to decline to collaborate with a space program that has accomplished so much so quickly as China’s has done. Cooperation in space can bring so much benefit and has so little downside.

[ZincFold]

No big loss for China. This will create space and opportunity for those who wish to collaborate with China.

[MrYoshigu]

TLDR: Europe sent all its money to Ukraine and can’t afford to go to space anymore
Ur welcome👍👍

[victorkmlee]

The EU has been a fickle even an unreliable potential partner. Before the Beidou came into being China collaborated and contributed millions in Euros to be a partner of the Galileo space navigation system. Initially, it seems to have gained traction but due to the pressure of you know who, this collaboration has been scuttled (China even lost the invested money). This left such a bitter taste that China went on to build their own GPS system, the Beidou. Frankly, it was a blessing in disguise as it has superseded the Galileo in every aspect. So the non-participation is not unexpected but actually a loss for ESA. It was a privilege to be invited (China does not need your participation except out of good will and cooperation) but you see it fit to respond in this way. The silver lining to this is that other non-Western countries can now get top priority for space travel. Russia will be also a good strong partner. Short sighted indeed just like the Galileo story.

[georgejesson]

China didn't need them to get where they are, it's actually better for China not to include any NATO countries. Less chance of sabotage(Nordstream) .

[mherrera]

The EU is too afraid of the concequences of not obeying EEUU (e.g. Ukrain). With or without the cooperation of the EU China will do just fine, no big deal.

[catonpillow]

The U$ keeps screwing EU. They did it through Ukrainе(now EU will buy the expensive U$ LNG and will make a lot of money for the U$ MIC) and now they doing it in the space sector. Hopefully one day EU will be able to overcome its subordinate role but I wouldn't hold my breath.

[sleepyjoe]

EU's loss. If they want to be America's lapdog that's their perogative.

[CjxJamie]

Good news! With ESA's ideological and political baggage, not to mention Western chauvinism and the European subservience to the US, I was worried it would slow CNSA down.

[KrazeDiamond]

I like how this channel keeps China's Space Program news clean, no political bias bs, just precise and detailed information.

[iqbang]

One day, we would see an African astronaut doing science research on CSS while their European counterparts could only watch from Earth. That could put European self-esteem into the dustbin.

[hyeung]

If they're just going to be the users of the CSS, then it makes no difference whether it's ISS or CSS to them. In fact, the astronauts will have to learn a whole new language too. However, let's see how things go during the gap when the ISS is decommissioned and a replacement is not ready. Really no loss for China as there are many scientists lining up to go to the CSS anyway.
Come to think about it, what has the ESA contributed to the ISS other than being a user? Or are they doing some secret experiments that they're not willing to share with the rest of the world?

[aliciap]

Of course it's best for humanity to exchange knowledge while reaserch and explore together. It look like the USA is holding humanity back to remain its hedgemony.