China, US space rivalry may heat up after Nasa’s Artemis Accords signed, analysts say
- Legal framework for behaviour in space allows countries or private companies to extract lunar resources and create temporary ‘safety zones’
- China and Russia are not signatories, and Chinese observers expect competition to intensify
Nasa’s new Artemis Accords were signed on Tuesday between the US and Australia, Britain, Canada, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg and the United Arab Emirates.
The accords allow countries or private companies to extract lunar resources and create temporary “safety zones” on the moon for their operation to “avoid harmful interference” from others.
They also require countries to be transparent about their plans in space and to share their scientific discoveries as required by the Outer Space Treaty, and to take part in mutual emergency help and reduction of space debris.
Mike Gold, Nasa’s acting associate administrator for the office of international and inter-agency relations, said even though Russia and China were not signatories, the accords would create a baseline for other nations to follow.