Special to CosmicTribune.com, June 13, 2023

Geostrategy-Direct

By Richard Fisher

On May 30 the State Department issued its Strategic Framework for Space Policy, a first of its kind document intended to guide State Department diplomatic efforts in support of United States space programs.

Of special concern is the National Aeronautics and Space Agency’s (NASA) Artemis program to return the U.S. and partner nations to the Moon.

The Artemis Accords now have 25 signatories, with Spain joining on May 30, 2023.

The Framework notes:

“Our relationships with foreign allies and partners are at the heart of our work. International allies and partners’ support for U.S. positions on norms and standards is influenced by their own internal priorities and domestic constituencies, as well as their national security apparatus and their space industries.

Expanding and leveraging these domestic and international partnerships can help address global challenges and common objectives and expand economic, security, and social benefits for the American people.”

The Framework also notes: “U.S. competitors are organizing, training, and equipping their forces to undermine U.S. and allied security in space.”

It further quotes the 2023 Office of the Directory of National Intelligence’s annual threat assessment that says, “…China’s space activities are designed to advance its global standing and …erode U.S. influence across military, technological, economic, and diplomatic spheres.”

However, it will be a challenge for NASA and the State Department to reel in European cooperation programs with China.

At the September 2022 International Astronautical Congress a Chinese briefer relayed how China’s 2024 Chang’e-6 unmanned far-side-of-the-Moon sample return mission will include scientific instruments from European Space Agency (ESA) and Sweden, and from France and Italy.

Some of these programs were affirmed during meetings in Paris with China National Space Agency (CNSA) director Zhang Keijian, who on June 8, 2023, met with ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher and with Philippe Baptiste, CEO of the French Space Agency.

The European Space Agency is one of three agencies, along with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and the Canadian Space Agency, that are partners with NASA in leading the Artemis Program.

ESA has led the development of the European Service Module (ESM), that will propel the Artemis Program Orion manned spacecraft to lunar orbit, and then after completing their Moon missions, return the crews to Earth orbit.

The ESM will also help propel parts of the Gateway small, manned space station to lunar orbit. The first ESM flew as part of the unmanned December 2022 Artemis-1 mission to circumnavigate the Moon.

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