Espacio Lejano Station

The Espacio Lejano Station is a radio station located in Loncopué Department, Neuquén Province, Argentina, and operated by the Chinese National Space Administration as part of the Chinese Deep Space Network, in collaboration with Argentina's National Space Activities Commission (CONAE).[1][2] The observatory is located north of Bajada del Agrio, near the Salado River on provincial route 33, in the so-called Pampa de Pilmatué, in the deserts of Patagonia.[3][4] The station houses a 35-meter antenna. It is the first Chinese deep space earth station built outside China.[5]

Far Space Station

Many, including the Trump administration and local residents, have voiced concern that the station may be used for military or intelligence purposes, but others have challenged or tempered this view.[6][7][8] Argentine officials have stated that China has agreed to use the station solely for civilian, not military, purposes.[4] According to Chinese media, the station played a key role in China's mission in landing a lunar rover on the dark side of the moon.[9] Argentina's CONAE claims that the facility has allowed students from nearby towns to visit.[8]

The plot which the station is based on consists of 494 acres of land, or two square kilometers. The land was leased in 2012 to the Chinese government for fifty years of use, and the agreement includes a tax exemption.[2][10] China has invested $50 million into building the satellite.[4] Future plans for the facility include research on Mars.[10] The Chinese ambassador to Argentina at the time, Yang Wanming, claimed the facility will generate 1,500 jobs in Argentina.[11] The radio station employs at least thirty Chinese employees. The facility has reportedly had a positive effect on the local economy, including the nearby town of Las Lajas, in part as a result of construction work which required 300 workers.[6][10] The Argentinian government states that Argentina would benefit from the project by receiving access to exploit 10% of the station's use time, through CONAE, to benefit national scientific research projects.[12][13]

References
  1. "Preocupa el eventual uso militar de un área espacial de China en el Sur". www.lanacion.com.ar (in Spanish). Retrieved 2020-12-07.
  2. "China and Argentina Resume Joint Venture for Space Exploration". Bloomberg.com. 2020-08-07. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
  3. "China instalará antenas de monitoreo en Neuquén: 2km2 serán chinos por 50 años". www.elmalvinense.com. Retrieved 2020-12-07.
  4. Londoño, Ernesto (2018-07-28). "From a Space Station in Argentina, China Expands Its Reach in Latin America (Published 2018)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
  5. "Estación china le da a la Argentina "una posibilidad única" para explorar el espacio". La Voz (in Spanish). Retrieved 2020-12-07.
  6. Garrison, Cassandra (2019-01-31). "China's military-run space station in Argentina is a 'black box'". Reuters. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
  7. Seligman, Lara. "U.S. Military Warns of Threat From Chinese-Run Space Station in Argentina". Foreign Policy. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
  8. "Mysterious Chinese Space Station in Argentina Raises Eyebrows in US". www.ibtimes.sg. 2020-08-27. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
  9. "Argentine Lawmakers Seek Greater Oversight of Chinese Space Facility in Patagonia | Voice of America - English". www.voanews.com. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
  10. "Argentinian congress approves deal with China on satellite space station". the Guardian. 2015-02-26. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
  11. de 2018, Por Martín Dinatale28 de Enero. "Tras la polémica por su eventual uso militar, la estación espacial de China en Neuquén ya empezó a funcionar". infobae (in Spanish). Retrieved 2020-12-12.
  12. "Ministerio de Planificación Federal, Inversión Pública y Servicios". web.archive.org. 2015-07-09. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
  13. "La Estación CLTC – CONAE - NEUQUEN brinda soporte al satélite chino QueQiao". Argentina.gob.ar (in Spanish). 2018-05-21. Retrieved 2020-12-12.

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