The Chief of the China National Space Administration Xu Dazhe has said that Hollywood blockbuster movie The Martian should inspire China and America to enhance space cooperation. The senior Chinese space official said The Martian movie is proof that the American people want to see more space collaboration between the two countries.     

Like Us on Facebook

"When I saw the U.S. film 'The Martian,' which envisages China-U.S. cooperation on a Mars rescue mission under emergency circumstances, it shows that our U.S. counterparts very much hope to cooperate with us," Xu told reporters. "However, it's very regrettable that, for reasons everyone is aware of, there are currently some impediments to cooperation."

The American science fiction film The Martian, released in 2015, depicts a grim story of an astronaut's struggle to survive on planet Mars. In one of the important scenes, Chinese space agency is shown supplying a rocket to launch a NASA rescue package into orbit as a part of a mission to rescue a stranded astronaut.

However, in reality, such space collaborations are almost impossible to take place as the US Congress has banned NASA from engaging in space cooperation with the Chinese space agency, citing security concerns as a major impediment.

Officials in the US government fear that China may use cutting edge space technology for military purposes. The unending political tension between the two countries over the South China Sea and a host of other issues have, over the years, heightened this fear in Washington.    

Xu Dazhe, while briefing the reporters, tried to dispel this fear. He said that the Chinese space program would continue to serve national security, but won't compromise on world peace.        

"I believe that on this matter, China is more and more open, and I hope our American friends can take note," Xu said.

In September last year, the US held a meeting with China for discussion on space technology, but the discussion was only restricted to civil space technology. Nonetheless, the meeting was the first of its kind between the two countries in recent years.

TagsThe Martin, chinese space program, Chinese Space