Perspectives on Sino-US cooperation in civil space programs

China is one of the few countries with a space launch capability and it is now becoming more and more visible as a major player in the human access to and exploration of space. The USA is the only space superpower, as demonstrated by its wider range of missions, richer experiences and the highest budget devoted to space. There are currently no governmental bilateral space cooperation activities between the USA and China for many reasons. This paper presents an analysis of the positive and negative postures of both countries, while focusing on the ways in which the USA may benefit from space cooperation with China, starting in civil space programs. A feasible cooperative route for space collaboration between the two countries is proposed.