NASA has made stellar achievements. But as cooperation both internally and internationally have decreased, among rocket launch setbacks, it may be time for the U.S. to look to China for advice.

U.S.-Russia cooperation aboard the International Space Station is hopefully a glimpse of how two nations at an all-time-low in relations can still cooperate on shared interests. However, whether or not this may foreshadow a future for China and the U.S. in orbit is another question.

Beijing, Moscow, and Washington rarely get along - but in the orbit above Earth, the high-stakes and high-investments each nation holds there are a great motivator to come to terms on how to coexist.

The U.S. and China just held a dialogue on space, mostly in secret to avoid the sensationalist ire of politicians and pundits. Working cooperatively could enable scientists in both countries to do more with their limited funds, exchange data and scientific discovery, as well as improve Global Navigation Satellite Systems.

NASA’s ban on Chinese researchers and scientists at next month’s meeting at the Ames Research Center has caused outcry far and wide. While the backlash against NASA has came mostly from big name research institutions, like Yale University, Wu Zurong writes that US politicians stuck in a Cold War-mindset are to blame.