Seven countries join NASA to explore the moon peacefully, transparently

NASA is believed to be making good progress in building international support for plans to return humans to the moon in the 2020s.

On Tuesday, during a virtual meeting of the International Astronautical Foundation, the space agency signed “agreements” with seven other countries, which will establish standards of cooperation among nations for the discovery of the moon, Mars and other places in the solar system.

Signing the Artemis Accord with the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan, Luxembourg, Italy, the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates. Essentially, the partner countries agreed on 10 basic standards as part of their space activities, such as operating in a transparent manner and releasing scientific data.

“I want it to be really clear that this is just the beginning,” NASA Administrator Jim Brydenstein told reporters during a teleconference. “There are many other countries that are not only interested in the Artemis Accords, but they are also anxious to sign them. But, all countries in the world will have to go through their own intransigence processes to be able to sign the agreements.”

NASA has done well to get so many countries on board so soon. NASA had just already released its proposed language for these agreements in May. At the time, Mike Gold, the agency’s associate administrator who led the talks, told Arsen that he hoped to sign at least one by the end of this year. It’s October, and he’s got seven partners.

Bridenstein said the mandates are based on an external space treaty based on international space law, and said the goal is to establish a framework through which agreements can be enforced. That is, if nations want to participate in a NASA-run human research program in deep space, they will have to agree to do things like orbit debris.

“If one of the participants chooses to ignore the other participants’ guidance, I believe they will eventually be asked to leave the Artemis program.” “But I hope they come at a better resolution than that.”

Russia and China?

Details of which countries will participate NASA is still working on, and how, in its plan to bring humans back to the moon in early 2024. Some countries have pledged millions of dollars to support the initiative. Japan has talked of delivering cargo to the moon with an advanced version of its new H3 rocket, and Italy could build pressure vessels for the lunar surface habitat. In return, their astronauts could get seats on future lunar missions.

One country that has resisted public participation in the deal is Russia, a nation that has worked in space for nearly 0 years by NASA and which the United States recently relied on to deliver its astronauts to the International Space Station.

During a virtual meeting on Monday, the head of Russia’s space corporation, Dmitry Rogozin, complained that the Artemis program was too “US-centric.” Unlike other members of the International Space Station partnership, the project reflects their past criticism. “The most important thing here is to keep this program based on the principles of international cooperation that we have all used for ISS flight,” Rogozin said.

This seems to be what the United States is trying to do, but it is not clear whether Russia will be willing to participate under any circumstances. Bridenstein opened the door, saying he had a “really strong relationship” with Rogozin and that the lunar gateway built into orbit around the moon was the way to go or for Russia to participate. Discussions are ongoing.

NASA has not held any direct talks with China, although it is prohibited to do so by Congress and the Wolf Amendment.

“As an agency, NASA will always abide by the law, and the law right now prohibits us from engaging China in bilateral activities,” Bridensta said. “I would also say … that, look, if Congress, Republicans and Democrats come together and see, ‘We want to join China,’ NASA is ready, if China’s behavior is changed. It’s not just in the cards. “