China will lose access to Australian space tracking station after contract expires

[JacksinPA]

China will lose access to Australian space tracking station

China’s expanding space capability, including its Beidou navigation network, is one of the new frontiers of tension between the US and China.

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Yatharagga Satellite Station in Australia. China last used the station in June 2013 to support the three-person Shenzhou 10 mission. Photo: Swedish Space Corporation (SSC)
China will lose access to a strategic space tracking station in Western Australia when its contract expires, the facility’s owners said, a decision that cuts into Beijing’s expanding space exploration and navigational capabilities in the Pacific region.

The Swedish Space Corporation (SSC) has had a contract allowing Beijing access to the satellite antenna at the ground station since at least 2011. It is located next to an SSC satellite station primarily used by the United States and its agencies, including Nasa.

The Swedish state-owned company said it would not enter into any new contracts at the Australiansite to support Chinese customers after its current contract expires. However, it did not disclose when the lease runs out. (more)
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Geopolitics. The article does not go into detail as to why the Swedes are cutting the Chinese out of this important facility. China has a rapidly expanding space program.

Yatharagga Satellite Station in Australia. China last used the station in June 2013 to support the three-person Shenzhou 10 mission. Photo: Swedish Space Corporation (SSC)
China
will lose access to a strategic
space
tracking station in Western Australia when its contract expires, the facility’s owners said, a decision that cuts into Beijing’s expanding space exploration and navigational capabilities in the Pacific region.
The Swedish Space Corporation (SSC) has had a contract allowing Beijing access to the satellite antenna at the ground station since at least 2011. It is located next to an SSC satellite station primarily used by the
United States
and its agencies, including
Nasa
.
The Swedish state-owned company said it would not enter into any new contracts at the
Australian
site to support Chinese customers after its current contract expires. However, it did not disclose when the lease runs out.