• China's space agency will share moon rocks with U.S. universities under special permissions.
• Brown University and Stony Brook University will study samples from the Chang'e-5 mission.
• International collaboration occurs despite high trade tensions between China and the U.S.

China's National Space Administration (CNSA) announced its decision to share moon rock samples with several universities worldwide, including Brown University and Stony Brook University in the United States. The Chang'e-5 mission, which retrieved these rocks in 2020, marked a significant milestone in China's lunar exploration program, as the samples are believed to be around a billion years younger than those collected during the Apollo missions from 1969 to 1972. Researchers worldwide are keen on analyzing these samples for unique scientific insights, especially regarding volcanic activity on the moon in more recent geological times, as indicated by samples suggesting volcanism occurred as recently as 120 million years ago, according to SCMP and Reuters.

Only universities that received funding from NASA were eligible for these samples, necessitating special authorization from Congress due to existing restrictions on collaborations with China. The permissions highlight a nuanced landscape of U.S.-China cooperation in specific domains, including space science, despite broader geopolitical tensions and trade wars. The cooperation signifies potential areas for diplomatic engagement, as stated by CNSA chief Shan Zhongde, who emphasized that the samples are representatives of a "shared treasure for all humanity," according to BBC and Reuters.

This initiative follows earlier interactions where both countries had expressed interest in sharing lunar samples, although specific negotiations have not produced a reciprocal arrangement for U.S. lunar samples housed at NASA. Current U.S. regulations restrict NASA's collaboration with Chinese entities unless expressly authorized by Congress, which adds a layer of complexity to the discussions. Despite this, experts like John Logsdon believe that the examination of lunar samples involves no military significance and reflects the norms of international scientific cooperation amidst political barriers, according to BBC.

In securing access to the Chang'e-5 samples, the U.S. institutions join several others from Japan, Germany, France, Britain, and Pakistan that have also gained permissions. This demonstrates China's ambitions not just in lunar exploration but in expanding its influence through international collaboration in science. Future missions, such as Chang'e-7 and Chang'e-8, are expected to include more international partnerships, showcasing China's growing role in global space endeavors while seeking to build diplomatic ties with various nations through shared scientific goals, according to SCMP, Reuters, and BBC.