China’s recent achievement could trigger yet another rivalry with the U.S., this time in outer space

• There are several reasons why China’s achievement in landing a spacecraft on the far side of the moon could trigger a rivalry with the U.S. in outer space.
• The data that China obtains on the moon’s craters could help it acquire an edge over other countries, including the U.S., in the highly competitive domain of space research.
• The Chinese could also steal a march over the Americans by launching advanced rockets, which would explore new frontiers in space.
• Unlike earth, the moon has an abundance of helium-3.
• In the far future, this can serve as the ideal fuel to power a new generation of spaceships, with the moon as the launchpad, instead of earth.
• The Chinese may have also taken the lead over peers in exploring the possibilities of human habitation on the moon.
• The promise of the moon’s natural resources can add another layer of rivalry between the Chinese and the Americans.
• Space exploration buffs have considered asteroids as lucrative sources of precious metals such as gold, platinum, silver and iridium in the future.
• But if the relatively more accessible surface of the moon could yield precious resources, the race for lunar colonisation would begin, providing China a substantial early-mover edge.
• A new generation of Chinese and American peace advocates, global citizens and cyber-activists have their task cut out — to step up their game and prevent outer space from becoming another arena of a budding Cold War between Washington and Beijing.

The Hindu