China shares rare moon rocks with US despite trade tensions

China has taken an important step in international cooperation by allowing American scientific institutions to study samples of moon rocks collected by the Chang'e-5 mission in 2020. The BBC reports this.

The China National Space Administration (CNSA) declared the samples "a shared treasure for all humanity." Two American universities funded by NASA, as well as scientific institutions from France, Germany, Japan, Pakistan and the United Kingdom, have been granted access to them.

Interestingly, the Chang'e-5 samples turned out to be a billion years younger than those collected by the Apollo missions, suggesting a longer history of volcanic activity on the Moon than previously thought. However, Chinese researchers do not have access to NASA samples due to U.S. legislative restrictions that prohibit collaboration with China without congressional approval.

CNSA head Shan Zhongde stressed the desire for international cooperation in the space sector, particularly within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative initiative. He also noted that China plans to expand the range of partners in space exploration.