Roundup Record Tribune & Winnett Times -

By Dean Cheng - -

The heavens are a little more crowded as 2021 draws to a close. There are more players and more systems in orbit … and more threats.

The People’s Republic of China has significantly expanded its role in space. This week, Chinese astronauts at the Tiangong space station engaged in a six-hour spacewalk, the longest ever by Chinese astronauts. The tempo of Chinese-crewed spaceflight activities has accelerated sharply since Beijing deployed its space station, with manned space flights increasing from one every 2-3 years to one every six months.

Meanwhile, three spacecraft...