Since when does this work?Wolf change (2011), the NASA doesn't have the ability to collaborate with that on any level China and with its space agencies (CNSA and CMSA) without first obtaining approval from the FBI and the US Congress to proceed. The concerns were related to what has been happening for several years with the Asian nation's growing strategic, technological, military and space capacity.
Specifically, “No funds provided by this Department may be used by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration or the Office of Science and Technology Policy for the development, design, planning, promulgation, implementation, or execution of any bilateral agreement.” .” A policy, program, order or contract of any kind to participate, cooperate or coordinate bilaterally in any way with China or a Chinese-owned entity, unless such activities are expressly permitted by a law pursuant to the date of entry into force of this Agreement.
This choice actually limited the possibility NASA And CNSA to develop joint projects, which led, for example, to the exclusion of the latter from the Artemis lunar research program. There China It therefore allied with Russia (also excluded from Artemis) to create an international lunar research base that could be built from 2035. This did not stop Bill Nelson (NASA administrator) from praising the landing of the Zhurong rover on Mars. Something may have changed in early December 2023.
Of funded researchers from that NASA They were authorized to examine lunar regolith samples brought back by the Chinese mission Chang'e-5 Late 2020. In an email you can read that “NASA has sent documentation to Congress outlining its intention to allow NASA-funded researchers to request access to lunar samples from the China National Space Administration The Chang e-5 mission and was recently made available to the international scientific community for research purposes.”
This would be an important exchange, but one that may not have any impact on the US obstructionist policy towards China and its technological growth including in the space sector (which is also related to the military sector). In these hours on the official website of CNSA A new post has been added that aims to further open the dialogue between the US and China, based on some statements from Ambassador Nicholas Burns, who stated that “the Chinese have shown great interest in working with the United States “.
The spokesman for the CNSA, Xu Hongliangexplained that he senses a certain contradiction, considering that the US seems to be somewhat inclined towards cooperation, while some at home still praise the Wolf Amendment (which actually severely restricts cooperation) and of a “possible pun ” speak.
There China It is currently the “second force” in space exploration, behind the US, but with growth that has not been overlooked in recent years (Chang'e, Tianwen missions, Tiangong space station, etc.). Obviously with the existing and indissoluble bond between Space and military activities the removal or modification of theWolf change (particularly at this time of international tension) is unlikely given a rapid schedule. However, the benefits that the international scientific community would derive from collaboration between the two great powers, and more generally between all nations seeking to advance space exploration, would be invaluable. The US response may be a long time coming, but hope for effective cooperation has not yet been given up.