ACCORDS TO LIVE & WORK ON MOON: NASA

Global Debate Over Moon Laws for Living & Working There

NASA's Artemis Accords

NASA just released a set of basic principles designed to govern

how humans will live and work on the Moon.  They are called the

Artemis Accords and include the main tenets of what is designed to become an international agreement for the exploration of the Moon.

It has already sparked international debate.  Russia is angry that it's not part of the early negotiations.  In fact, the Russian space agency Roscosmos has accused the Trump Administration of "planet snatching" in its efforts to drive formation of the Accords.  China too has complained that it isn't part of the early negotiations.

Lunar Safety Zones and Mining Rights

The Accords are designed to establish safety zones around lunar bases to prevent what NASA calls "harmful interference".  They would permit companies and nations to own the lunar resources that they mine.  The Accords are part of NASA's strategy to win support from allies for its plans to build long term bases on the Moon as part of NASA's Artemis lunar mission.

International Space Law

At this point, the Trump Administration is bypassing the United Nations and attempting to craft bi-lateral and multilateral agreements on the Moon accords with allies.  President Trump wants the Accords to establish under international law the rights of companies to mine the Moon and own those resources.  Some Russian space experts have argued those lunar resources are the property of all humanity.

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