from the things-were-not-already-challenging-enough dept.
NASA's 'Artemis Accords' set forth new and old rules for outer space cooperation
NASA's plan to return to the Moon is ambitious enough on its own, but the agency is aiming to modernize international cooperation in space in the process. Today it published a summary of the "Artemis Accords," a new set of voluntary guidelines that partner nations and organizations are invited to join to advance the cause of exploration and industry globally.
Having no national affiliation or sovereignty of its own, space is by definition lawless. So these are not so much space laws as shared priorities given reasonably solid form. Many nations already take part in a variety of agreements and treaties, but the progress of space exploration (and soon, colonization and mining, among other things) has outpaced much of that structure. A fresh coat of paint is overdue and NASA has decided to take up the brush.
[...] First, the rules that could be considered new. NASA and partner nations agree to:
- Publicly describe policies and plans in a transparent manner.
- Publicly provide location and general nature of operations to create "Safety Zones" and avoid conflicts.
- Use international open standards, develop new such standards if necessary and support interoperability as far as is practical.
- Release scientific data publicly in a full and timely manner.
- Protect sites and artifacts with historic value. (For example, Apollo program landing sites, which have no real lawful protection.)
- Plan for the mitigation of orbital debris, including safe and timely disposal of end-of-life spacecraft.
Also at The Verge, Ars Technica, and Reuters.
Related Stories
The government of Mexico announced Dec. 9 that it is signing the U.S.-led Artemis Accords outlining best practices for space exploration.
Marcelo Ebrard Casaubon, Mexico's secretary of foreign relations, announced that Mexico would become the fourteenth country to sign the Artemis Accords, a document addressing various issues regarding safe and sustainable space exploration, many of which are directly tied to the Outer Space Treaty and other international accords.
In a statement, Ebrard said Mexico looked forward to participating in NASA's Artemis program of lunar exploration, but did not disclose details regarding the role he thought the country would play in the effort. He said that, during the Apollo program a half century ago, "we were spectators, now we are going to be participants. It is a great step for Mexico."
[...] NASA announced the Artemis Accords in October 2020 with an initial group of eight signatories. Five others later joined before Mexico, most recently Poland [on] Oct. 26. The countries who have signed include both traditional partners of the United States in space, such as Canada, Japan and several European nations, as well as emerging space nations like Brazil, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates.
Previously: NASA Wants Partner Nations to Agree to "Artemis Accords" for Lunar Exploration
Could Corporations Control Territory in Space? Under New US Rules, It Might Be Possible
Legal Questions Linger as Governments and Companies Keep Pushing Into Space
Could corporations control territory in space? Under new US rules, it might be possible:
First, the Artemis Accords go beyond simply rejecting the unpopular 1979 Moon Agreement, which declared lunar resources to be the "common heritage of mankind" and committed parties to establish an international regime to oversee space mining. Only 18 countries have signed the treaty.
In its place, the accords envisage a US-centric framework of bilateral agreements in which "partner nations" agree to follow US-drafted rules.
Second, the accords introduce the concept of "safety zones" around lunar operations.
Although territorial claims in space are prohibited under international law, these safety zones would seek to protect commercial and scientific sites from inadvertent collisions and other forms of "harmful interference". What kinds of conduct could count as harmful interference remains to be determined.
Previously:
(2020-06-02) Third European Service Module for Artemis Mission to Land Astronauts on the Moon
(2020-05-16) NASA Wants Partner Nations to Agree to "Artemis Accords" for Lunar Exploration
(2020-03-12) CoronaVirus (SARS-CoV-2) Roundup 2020-03-12
(2018-07-22) Who Owns The Moon? A Space Lawyer Answers
(2018-03-07) China to Recruit Civilian Astronauts, Partner With Russia on Upcoming Missions
(2018-01-09) Russia Assembles Engineering Group for Lunar Activities and the Deep Space Gateway
(2017-10-18) Bigelow and ULA to Put Inflatable Module in Orbit Around the Moon by 2022
(2015-11-26) Who Owns Space? USA's Asteroid-Mining Act is Dangerous and Potentially Illegal
Robert Heinlein explored the notion in a novel. Does the future of space exploration lie with governments or corporations?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday May 16 2020, @07:20PM
How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?
(Score: 2) by captain normal on Saturday May 16 2020, @07:30PM (2 children)
Does this come from the current Duffus in Chief or did they actually run this by him yet?
The Musk/Trump interview appears to have been hacked, but not a DDOS hack...more like A Distributed Denial of Reality.
(Score: 2, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday May 16 2020, @07:45PM
He's too busy watching Fox and posturing like a giant orange-back to worry about what the peons are doing.
(Score: 5, Insightful) by driverless on Sunday May 17 2020, @04:17AM
Since the US has already withdrawn from binding international treaties, why would anyone sign up to a non-binding agreement coming from the US? If they won't honour binding treaties they sure as heck won't honour some voluntary feel-good agreement.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday May 16 2020, @08:06PM
From adastra
https://youtu.be/EH9NvOVil-k?t=55 [youtu.be]
(Score: 2) by linkdude64 on Saturday May 16 2020, @08:07PM (4 children)
I hope this is the rumblings of the new space race kicking off!
(Score: 3, Interesting) by takyon on Saturday May 16 2020, @09:32PM (2 children)
The Artemis crew vs. China and India?
By the way, Australia [nasa.gov] is one of the Artemis participants, something that is probably overlooked. The others are Japan, Canada, and the EU, which were ISS partners. Russia may or may not join in.
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday May 16 2020, @10:58PM
》The Artemis crew vs. China and India?
Trump vs Musk
(Score: 2) by captain normal on Sunday May 17 2020, @12:10AM
We have always been at war with Euraisa...
https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/george_orwell_385724 [brainyquote.com]
The Musk/Trump interview appears to have been hacked, but not a DDOS hack...more like A Distributed Denial of Reality.
(Score: 2) by Magic Oddball on Sunday May 17 2020, @03:08AM
NASA's running on the budget money allocated to them well before COVID-19 plunged the economy into a deep recession, eliminated a lot of businesses, ran unemployment to levels not seen since the Great Depression, and pushed a lot of people onto public benefits. If politicians are going to be investing tax money in major projects in the next budget year, chances are that it will be on things that will at least pacify voters, not things that their rivals can claim is frivolous spending.
(Score: 2, Insightful) by fustakrakich on Saturday May 16 2020, @08:11PM (11 children)
Oh, you mean like how they run things now? Transparent manner. That's a good one. Just don't ask any questions
La politica e i criminali sono la stessa cosa..
(Score: 2) by PartTimeZombie on Sunday May 17 2020, @12:12AM (9 children)
Just like that yes. I have read the article about the secret X-37B spaceplane too.
Do as we say, not as we do.
(Score: 1) by khallow on Sunday May 17 2020, @01:55AM (8 children)
The Artemis Accord doesn't imply that every ones' secret toys must be outed.
(Score: 2) by PartTimeZombie on Sunday May 17 2020, @08:47PM (7 children)
It's on the NASA site:
(Score: 1) by khallow on Monday May 18 2020, @04:25AM (6 children)
(Score: 2) by PartTimeZombie on Monday May 18 2020, @11:19PM (5 children)
It's a project? Oh well, it doesn't count then.
(Score: 1) by khallow on Tuesday May 19 2020, @04:23AM (4 children)
(Score: 2) by PartTimeZombie on Tuesday May 19 2020, @07:06AM (3 children)
Like launching a secret spaceplane?
Because they just did that.
(Score: 1) by khallow on Tuesday May 19 2020, @08:05AM (2 children)
What's the policy or plan implications of that which don't meet the standards of the Artemis Accord?
(Score: 2) by PartTimeZombie on Tuesday May 19 2020, @09:39PM (1 child)
The secret bit.
(Score: 1) by khallow on Wednesday May 20 2020, @02:30AM
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday May 17 2020, @12:36AM
It Trump! There is only a view of open. He break it once there money for his pockets.
(Score: 0, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday May 16 2020, @08:40PM (1 child)
THIS ONE IS MINE! Doesn't it make my posts look GLORIOUS?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday May 16 2020, @08:44PM
Did YOU see the size of that ... CHICKEN?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday May 16 2020, @09:59PM (2 children)
Is it officially called the "Artemis Accord" that they want everyone to sign on? I know it is meaningless and more symbolic than anything, but I hope that the official name of whatever it is isn't named after their program.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday May 16 2020, @10:38PM
https://www.nasa.gov/specials/artemis-accords/index.html [nasa.gov]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday May 17 2020, @01:26AM
Again it’s Trump! He does not have a unique thought just the stupid name Space Force! It’s about space and a force. Surprised he did not rename the Army to Land Force and navy to water force. The marines will be a really hard one for him thought.
We need the sphylis brained trirsnt out of office before the civil war breaks out after he trying to thousands with empires Covid-19 response. Yeah ask your politianctions how many people must die before they act? Ask the protesters who they are willing to kill for their freedoms? Their mothers? Their kids? One they do that, then come and complain.