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A lot happens every day. Alliances shift, leaders change and conflicts erupt. With In Brief, we’ll help you make sense of it all. Each week, experts will dig deep on a single issue happening in the world to help you better understand it.***On May 30, 2023, China sent its first civilian astronaut into space as part of the Shenzhou-16 satellite program, a significant step forward for the country’s rapidly developing space program. The astronauts headed for the Tiangong space station, marking the country’s fifth manned mission to the station since 2021. We asked three experts to tell us more about China’s space program and what these developments might mean for U.S.-Chinese competition.Read more below. Kari A. Bingen Director, Aerospace Security Project Center for Strategic and International StudiesSpace has become another front for strategic competition with China. Beijing’s May 30 launch of three astronauts to its Tiangong space station is another measured step in Xi Jinping’s plan to make China the global leader in space.  It is now second to the United States, surpassing Russia, in number of satellites on-orbit, space launches, space startups, and private investment. Beijing is developing a range of weapons to target satellites; from cyber attacks and jammers to destructive antisatellite missiles, no orbit is out of reach. To stay ahead, the United States must double down on space innovation, increase technology cooperation with allies and partners, and emphasize protection of space capabilities. Lincoln Hines Assistant Professor, Sam Nunn School of International Affairs Georgia Institute of TechnologyChina is a force to be reckoned with in outer space—from a space station orbiting Earth to an increasingly sophisticated array of space weapons. The most worrisome aspect of U.S.-Chinese space competition is in the military realm, and as outer space is more “crowded, congested, and contested” than ever, the potential costs of conflict are enormous. With a high