American and Chinese authorities are taking steps to prevent future space crisis by establishing a space "hotline."

A direct link or "hotline" has been set-up by both countries to hasten space communication activities and avoid space mishaps. This will specifically aid space and military agencies to tackle  "potential collisions, approaches, or tests," The Financial Times reports. The primary aim is to avoid misapprehension or miscommunication which can result in life-threatening space and Earth situations. 

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"Up until about nine or 10 months ago, we had to send notifications to the Chinese via their ministry of foreign affairs. The chain would go from JSpOC [Joint Space Operations Center] to the Pentagon, to the State Department, to the US Embassy in Beijing, and then on to a contact there," explained the US assistant secretary of state Frank Rose.

"China is developing a full spectrum of anti-satellite capabilities," he explained. "We've made it clear we don't believe it's in anyone's interest to engage in a space arms race."

Technically speaking, the idea is similar to the "red telephone" that connected Moscow and Washington during the Cuban Missile Crisis. The US' decision to create a space hotline with China is a reflection of the latter's undeniable progress in space.

In 2007, during China's anti-satellite weapon test, a satellite was detonated. This caused worry about a possible space warfare. Destroying a circling satellite can reportedly disarm intelligence efforts.

Tagsspace hotline, Space, space exploration, Satellites, China US Space Satellite