The United States and China have set up a space hotline between them. This connection will be used to facilitate the exchange of information between the two countries and prevent satellite-related conflicts and misunderstandings.
There have been fears of the possibility of warfare in space after China blew up a satellite during one of its test runs of its anti-satellite technology back in 2007. Military operations and intelligence-gathering efforts that are dependent on satellites could be severely derailed by such weapons.
The two powerhouse nations have been investing in weaponry that can destroy satellites that can be used during military operations. Frank Rose, U.S. assistant secretary of state, said that China has been testing out anti-satellite weapons.
In order to prevent the space tests from causing misunderstandings that would then result into space wars, the new hotline will provide quick access between authorities in China and the United States. The direct link will make it easier to convey certain necessary information to prevent any conflicts.
"China is developing a full spectrum of anti-satellite capabilities," Rose said, noting that if China can refuse to give the United States and its allies access to space systems, China is set to gain military advantage.
Before the hotline, information on collisions would have to go through China's ministry of foreign affairs, consisting of a long, winding channel through the Joint Space Operations Center to the Pentagon and the State Department and then to the U.S. embassy in Beijing before reaching proper authorities.
The hotline will be able to reach the right people faster and both governments will be able to do away with the need for middlemen.
This isn't in the first time the United States had set up a direct link as it already has a similar hotline established with Russia. The hotline has been around since the time of the Cold War, meant to alert the allied forces to avoid the possibility of friendly fire.
The establishment of the hotline brings to mind other issues that are yet to be fully addressed about space travel and future space colonization. Experts believe that these issues should be dealt with not just for military purposes.
"Our societies are becoming more and more dependent on space," Patricia Lewis, research director at international affairs think tank Chatham House said. "A conflict or accidental loss of some of these satellite constellations could be game over for us."
