Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BEIJING381
2009-02-13 10:28:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Beijing
Cable title:
Talking Points Delivered: CNSA Response to Satellite
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UNCLAS BEIJING 000381
STATE FOR OES/SAT, EAP/CM, ISN/MDSP AND T
NASA/OFFICE OF EXTERNAL RELATIONS FOR A/A O'BRIEN
TOKYO FOR NASA ATTACHE TILMAN
STATE PASS TO NSC
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TSPA TSPL TPHY PREL KSCA CH
SUBJECT: Talking Points Delivered: CNSA Response to Satellite
Collision Talking Points
REF: STATE 12948
UNCLAS BEIJING 000381
STATE FOR OES/SAT, EAP/CM, ISN/MDSP AND T
NASA/OFFICE OF EXTERNAL RELATIONS FOR A/A O'BRIEN
TOKYO FOR NASA ATTACHE TILMAN
STATE PASS TO NSC
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TSPA TSPL TPHY PREL KSCA CH
SUBJECT: Talking Points Delivered: CNSA Response to Satellite
Collision Talking Points
REF: STATE 12948
1. (SBU) On February 13, ESTHOFF conveyed points in REFTEL
regarding the collision of a U.S. and Russian satellite and
discussed the issue directly by phone with Mr. XU Yansong of the
China National Space Agency's (CNSA) International Cooperation
Department. Post also transmitted points in writing to the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Americas Division.
2. (SBU) In response to delivered points, CNSA's Xu said that China
would work through the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination
Committee (IADC) to better understand the risk to China's space
assets and future manned space missions. [NOTE: The IADC is an
international governmental forum for coordinating issues associated
with man-made debris in space. The Committee consists of eleven
national space agencies, including those of the U.S., Russia, and
China. End Note] Xu also said that China currently chairs the IADC
Working Group on Protection, noting that the Chinese Academy of
Sciences is conducting research on high-strength Aluminum alloys
designed to shield satellites against small debris impacts.
3. (SBU) ESTHOFF asked if China's own space surveillance network
had detected the collision or if China was developing its own debris
assessment. Xu stated he did not know if China had detected the
event or if China's Purple Mountain Observatory--a leading facility
in China's space surveillance network--was focusing its resources on
tracking the debris. [NOTE: China's space surveillance network is
operated by the military and CNSA, a primarily civilian
organization, is probably not privy to this information. End note]
4. (U) Post will report any additional information received from
CNSA and/or MFA.
PICCUTA
STATE FOR OES/SAT, EAP/CM, ISN/MDSP AND T
NASA/OFFICE OF EXTERNAL RELATIONS FOR A/A O'BRIEN
TOKYO FOR NASA ATTACHE TILMAN
STATE PASS TO NSC
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TSPA TSPL TPHY PREL KSCA CH
SUBJECT: Talking Points Delivered: CNSA Response to Satellite
Collision Talking Points
REF: STATE 12948
1. (SBU) On February 13, ESTHOFF conveyed points in REFTEL
regarding the collision of a U.S. and Russian satellite and
discussed the issue directly by phone with Mr. XU Yansong of the
China National Space Agency's (CNSA) International Cooperation
Department. Post also transmitted points in writing to the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Americas Division.
2. (SBU) In response to delivered points, CNSA's Xu said that China
would work through the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination
Committee (IADC) to better understand the risk to China's space
assets and future manned space missions. [NOTE: The IADC is an
international governmental forum for coordinating issues associated
with man-made debris in space. The Committee consists of eleven
national space agencies, including those of the U.S., Russia, and
China. End Note] Xu also said that China currently chairs the IADC
Working Group on Protection, noting that the Chinese Academy of
Sciences is conducting research on high-strength Aluminum alloys
designed to shield satellites against small debris impacts.
3. (SBU) ESTHOFF asked if China's own space surveillance network
had detected the collision or if China was developing its own debris
assessment. Xu stated he did not know if China had detected the
event or if China's Purple Mountain Observatory--a leading facility
in China's space surveillance network--was focusing its resources on
tracking the debris. [NOTE: China's space surveillance network is
operated by the military and CNSA, a primarily civilian
organization, is probably not privy to this information. End note]
4. (U) Post will report any additional information received from
CNSA and/or MFA.
PICCUTA