The Next Space Race:

Competition or Cooperation?

Global Space Development Summit
April 23-25 2008 · Beijing, China

Co-organized by: Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and Chinese Society of Astronautics (CSA)

(11/4/2007) The October 24th launch of China’s first Moon mission marked a tipping point in global space exploration. This launch, weeks after the start of Japan’s lunar exploration program, and in advance of India’s first Moon launch next April, marks the official start of an ambitious exploration program that has the potential to unseat the U.S. from its leadership role in space.

In response to this new era in space exploration, CSIS’ Space Initiatives Program is hosting, in cooperation with the Chinese Society of Astronautics, the first Global Space Development Summit (April 23-25, 2008 in Beijing, China).

Is the U.S. in a New Space Race?

China is the third country in the world to develop an indigenous human spaceflight program – breaking what had previously been the monopoly of Cold War rivals, the U.S. and U.S.S.R. In September, NASA Administrator Michael Griffin stated that be believes China will land a person on the on the Moon before the U.S. can end its 35+ year absence from the lunar surface. Both plan landings around 2020, which has created the potential for a U.S.-China Moon race.

However, an Asian space race between China, Japan, and India is much more likely. The Asian robotic lunar exploration missions – from lunar orbiters and rovers to sample return missions – are closely synchronized, and both China and India have announced plans for their own independent programs to land humans on the surface of the Moon.

The Global Space Development Summit marks the first time leaders from Russia, China, Europe, India, Japan, the U.S. and other space-faring nations will come together to discuss the future of human space activity, and whether the newly dawning Second Space Age will be an era defined by cooperation or conflict.

Further details can be found in the attached press release and draft agenda.

Thank you for your time and interest,

G. Ryan Faith
Program Manager, Space Initiatives
Technology and Public Policy Program
Center for Strategic and International Studies
e-mail - space@csis.org