Before the launch of the International Space Station in 1998, the U.S. signed an agreement with several countries to ensure the peaceful use of the space laboratory. China was not included in this agreement, and when they later expressed interest in joining, the U.S. opposed the decision due to concerns about sharing information that could benefit China. Congress passed a spending bill in 2011 prohibiting collaboration between NASA and China for scientific research, arguing that China’s space program was secretive and closely tied to its military.
China began developing its own space station, the Tiangong Space Station, after being excluded from the International Space Station. The United States identified China as an economic and geopolitical competitor, viewing them as a threat in the new space race. Concerns were raised about potential funding cuts for NASA, as delays in new space station development projects could lead to the deorbiting of the International Space Station without a replacement ready to launch.
Following the retirement of the American-made space shuttle in 2011, NASA faced challenges in developing a new spacecraft to transport astronauts and scientists to the space station. The Obama administration eliminated the Constellation program and directed funding to support commercial companies building spacecraft. American-made rockets were not available until SpaceX launched its Falcon 9 rocket in 2020, marking the first commercial rocket launch on U.S. soil.
As NASA plans for the eventual decommissioning of the International Space Station, officials are focused on competition with China and ensuring that the U.S. remains a leader in space exploration. China’s increased cooperation with other countries and successful launch of its own space station raise concerns about the potential for China to become the sole operator of a space station in orbit. Companies like Arkisys are working on developing technologies to maintain a U.S. presence in space, including a robotic servicing port that could support cargo, supplies, and fuel for future missions.
The U.S. hopes to bridge the gap between the decommissioning of the International Space Station and the launch of new commercial space stations by leveraging autonomous technologies like the robotic servicing port developed by Arkisys. This port would enable orbital transfer vehicles to bring cargo, fuel, and new payloads to sustain a permanent presence for the U.S. in space. In the face of China’s growing space capabilities, U.S. companies and agencies are working to maintain their competitive edge and ensure continued collaboration with international partners.
