China Ranks Second in Global Space Infrastructure Construction
China has solidified its position as a major player in space infrastructure construction, ranking second globally according to the latest Global Space Infrastructure Assessment. The report released at the China International Fair for Trade in Services placed the United States first, with Japan, Russia, and other top economies completing the top ten.
The study evaluated interstellar connectivity-oriented infrastructure across 48 economies using a blend of hardware and software indicators, including life-support capabilities, launch systems, communications, energy, legal frameworks, and dispute-resolution mechanisms. China led on soft-power factors, along with France, the US, Russia, and Italy.
Looking ahead, the report projects that human activity will remain focused within cislunar space through 2035. Earth-to-Mars development may become feasible after 2040, but large-scale access to interplanetary space is unlikely in the near term. The assessment warns that outer space is set to intensify as a theatre of geopolitical and technological competition.