| By Xuan Zhong |
On August 2nd, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) announced international researchers could request access to the lunar samples brought back to Earth by China’s Chang’e 5 spacecraft. CNSA published procedures detailing how international applicants can submit their science proposals to access and analyze the samples.
China has been working to expand its influence in space exploration. The opening of the lunar samples to global researchers can be seen as an attempt by China to strengthen foreign cooperation in space exploration and pursue space leadership aspirations. Similarly, China’s invitation for 17 countries to join in research onboard China’s own Tiangong space station exemplifies Chinese efforts to broaden international space cooperation in CNSA’s space program.
Read more about the developments in China’s space program at https://bit.ly/456MKil.
