Creating a productive international partnership in the Vision for Space Exploration

When US President George W. Bush on 14 January 2004 announced a new US “Vision for Space Exploration”, he called for international participation in “a journey, not a race”, a call received with skepticism and concern elsewhere. But, after a slow start in implementing this directive, during 2006 NASA has increased the forward momentum of action on the program and of discussions on international cooperation in exploring “the Moon, Mars, and beyond”. There are nevertheless a number of significant top-level issues that must be addressed if a cooperative approach to human space exploration is to be pursued. These include the relationship between utilization of the ISS and the lunar exploration plans, integration of potential partners’ current and future capabilities into the exploration plans, and the evolving space-related intentions of other countries.     

Integrating European security through space

For decades, Western European nations have been comparatively uninterested in the military use of space, largely content to rely on the far greater resources of the USA in this area. Today, however, the traditional belief that the security requirements of ‘the West’ are synonymous with those of the USA is increasingly open to challenge. A new European defence identity is emerging, keen to achieve greater autonomy in the security field, albeit remaining within the overarching framework of NATO. Consequently there is a growing requirement for indigenous European capabilities in terms of military space assets. This requirement has been met in part by the establishment, by the Western Union, of a satellite centre in Spain, which currently analyses commercially procured satellite imagery. The centre's capabilities may be expanded if the WEU states decide to add a space-based element — either their own satellite system, or participation in an existing multinational programme. Such a decision is due to be taken towards the end of 1995. This paper concludes by briefly examining the political and security implications of such a decision.     

Space, security and resilience: Reflections on the debate

The RUSI Space and UK National Security Conference was held in London, 14 June 2011. Alixe Buckerfield de la Roche reports on some of the key themes discussed, including the increasing merger of space and cyber, the growing urgency in calling for development of robust and effective regulatory frameworks for orbital management, and the challenges surrounding national resilience achieved through space situational awareness. At RUSI’s 12th Missile Defence Conference held the same week Secretary General Rasmussen gave an address on NATO’s missile policy—focusing on partnerships and collaboration. His comments intersect aptly with the Space and UK National Security conference themes and are therefore included here.     

The legal hazards of transatlantic cooperation in space

Transatlantic cooperation has played a key part in developing Europe's capabilities in space, but this has been despite serious drawbacks in the legal status of the agreements concerned. This article traces the history of transatlantic space relations and highlights the misunderstandings that have arisen. These stem from the precedence given in the USA to domestic laws and financial interests over all international agreements except formal treaties, which are generally not considered suitable for scientific and technical agreements. The article concludes with a discussion of how more stable and equitable relationships could be achieved.     

坚持自主创新推进空间事业持续跨越发展

2006年10月8日,是中国航天事业创建50周年纪念日。经过50年的艰苦奋斗、不断创新,中国航天事业取得了举世瞩目的成就,走出了一条适合我国国情、有自身特色的发展道路。作为中国航天事业重要组成部分的中国空间技术研究院,始终坚持自主创新,研制并成功发射了70余颗卫星、4艘无人     

空间站空间因特网与空间通信链路设计

为改善在空间站长期值守的航天员的业务生活,提出建立空间站网吧,为航天员提供因特网服务的构想。为此分析研究空间站空间因特网服务系统及其关键技术,提出空间站空间因特网服务系统构建方案。结合这一系统构建方案,一是研究解决了支持复杂异构网络运行的空间因特网网络协议设计技术,空间站空间因特网直接采用TCP/IP协议,并通过系统设计,较好地克服了TCP/IP协议不能适应空间通信链路的难题,支持采用基于TCP/IP协议的商用货架(COTS)软、硬件产品,可明显降低空间站空间因特网服务系统建设与维护成本;二是研究解决了涉及空间站测控通信网运行安全和空间信息安全的空间通信链路设计技术,空间站在同一条空间通信链路同时传输空间因特网数据和空间站测控通信数据,空间通信链路采用CCSDS的AOS协议,并通过建立虚拟的物理信道,解决了空间因特网数据和空间站测控通信数据的安全隔离问题,能满足空间站测控通信网运行安全和空间信息安全的要求。     

United States space policy and international partnership

Has the current US space policy improved the USA's overall strategic position? Does it affect favorably international partnerships? These questions are examined in terms of security, political economy, and influence. In today's context, where there are more space players, more options, more potential for unintended consequences, and higher stakes, unilateral action is more limited in its effectiveness than in earlier times. Surveying current US space policy, it is not clear that data-driven, analytically based decisions are being made to affect positively national independence, innovation, market creation, and international perceptions of the USA as a trustworthy partner. More promising are the steps taken to bolster a predictable space operational environment and economic competitiveness. Ultimately, in order to achieve American excellence and leadership, a ‘closed loop’ on the policy system is needed, to gauge regularly and systematically whether the US is achieving the desired national outcomes.     

从发现号航天飞机的安全谈空间碎片的危害

2005年8月9日，发现号航天飞机在执行完14天的太空飞行任务后，安全返回美国爱德华兹空军基地。此次飞行是哥伦比亚号航天飞机失事后的首次飞行。虽然在此前两年半的时间里美国航宇局（NASA）耗资30多亿美元，在六个方面改善了航天飞机的性能，但整个过程并不顺利，可谓一波三折，引起了全世界的广泛关注。让美国人引以自豪的航天飞机日显老态，逐渐暴露出诸多问题，这对美国今后的航天事业也将产生深远的影响。     

European space research in support of international partnership

The envisaged future space research programmes, whether in the field of space exploration or Earth observation are becoming more and more technically complicated and so costly that a single nation can hardly afford to realize them. Major non-European space-faring nations, China and India will progressively play an important role besides US, Russia and Japan. The Space Advisory Group of the European Commission recommended that the European Commission supports within Horizon 2020 a comprehensive Robotic Mars-Exploration Programme under European leadership that should become an essential element of a coordinated international space research programme. The International Space Station (ISS) experience shows that cooperative space programmes build links between industries and laboratories from around the world, which then further develop in non-space related activities, with positive impact on the economy and scientific research. Strategies need to be developed to mitigate the gradual increasing risks incurred by climate change. In order to lower their entry barrier to engage in space emerging and developing space nations need to be included in cooperative space programmes. We present the recommendations of the Space Advisory Group of the European Commission concerning Europe's participation to global space endeavours.     

“哈勃”眼中的太空美景

屈指一数,哈勃空间望远镜漂泊太空已19年有余。在漫长而短暂的19年里,“哈勃”完成了88万多次宇宙观测,并对29万个宇宙天体拍摄了57万多张照片。这些被“哈勃”捕捉到的天体现象或宇宙奇观,不仅震撼眼球,而且震撼心灵——原来在那遥远得有些不敢想象的太空中,竟然存在着如此多数不胜数的壮丽景象。本刊特从“哈勃”拍摄的众多照片中,精选出极少数的经典作品,以飨读者!     

航天器安全防护保障探讨

把对航天器安全的威胁分为硬和软两大类,分析了对航天器产生威胁的类别,以及为保证航天器安全而需要采取的措施。介绍了研究的内容,需要建设的空间信息对抗系统和空间信息探测网。     

Space policy-making in the Americas

The Third Space Conference of the Americas, entitled ‘Technology, Education and Environment’, was held in Punta del Este, Uruguay, from 4 to 8 November, 1996. The conference was attended by 255 delegates from 26 countries, eight space agencies and six international organizations. This report briefly summarizes the conference and presents the declaration that came out of it.     

即将建成的“宇宙城堡”——国际空间站

经过十多年的建造,世界上投入资金最大、参与国家最多、建造周期最长、技术水平最高、应用范围最广的国际空间站于2011年2月基本建成。它包含13个增压舱,其中8个是用于科学实验和航天员居住,1个为空间站提供初始推进、姿控、通信和储存,4个用于对接。另外,还装有7段桁架结构、4对巨型太阳能电池阵、1个移动服务系统、舱外仪器设     

空间技术实验与空间技术发展

空间技术实验是空间技术发展的需要,是空间技术发展的先驱和阶梯。本文以美国、苏联、印度、巴西为例说明空间技术实验在过去和未来对空间技术发展的必要性和迫切性。文中研究了90年代世界空间技术实验的发展趋势和具体项目,探讨了我国空间技术实验的现状。