Space station by China, Tiangong (Heavenly Palace) is expected to be operational by 2022. China is partnering with multiple nations, many of which are already partners of the US on the International Space Station, for conducting scientific experiments onboard Tiangong. These countries include France, Germany, Japan and even developing nations like Kenya and Peru.
“China is rapidly building what they call the ‘Chinese International Space Station,’ and they’re rapidly marketing that space station to all of our international partners,” said NASA chief Jim Bridenstine. “It would be a tragedy, if, after all of his time, and all of this effort, we were to abandon low Earth orbit and cede that territory.”
Bridenstine mentioned the US’ necessity in maintaining the position. He suggested that funds to NASA can eventually be used to pay companies to set up a space station. NASA would then act as “one of several customers” and hence will have a presence in the low-Earth orbit at a much lower cost.
He stressed that this was vital to “ultimately not cede that territory to another country that doesn’t have our interests at heart.”
