11 - 15 July 2022
It is crucial that politics in space should remain neutral
Division is arising between China and US over their intentions on the Moon. (image: Unsplash)
The International Space Station has been a bastion of international cooperation and a place where Earthly rivalries and disputes are put aside in order to forward humankind’s exploration and knowledge of outer space. Most nations are party to the Outer Space Treaty of 1967, which limit the use of the moon and other celestial bodies for peaceful purposes.
Global innovation from the public and private sector are rapidly brining us closer to our goals, yet over the recent weeks and months we have witnessed political division creeping into the space sector, with no single party to point fingers at. NASA administrator, Bill Nelson, has accused China of militarising space and intending to claim the Moon, with China responding by calling this “irresponsible comments”. Russia was accused of politicising the ISS with cosmonauts holding flags of the region’s of Luhansk and Donetsk, and the rival parties of the Artemis Accords and the Chinese-led ILRS appear to be re-establishing cold war rhetoric.
The technology and the talent is here, and there is so much to gain from our future in space, but will the presence of politics and division threaten our future?
Space not immune from economic fallout, but for now, continues to innovate
There are warning signs beginning to appear that the space sector may not be immune to the looming economic downturn. This could be very damaging for the whole industry, but especially younger startups with longer-term strategies, which rely on early stage investment and venture capital. We can only hope that investment and public finance can still find its way to them, especially after the James Webb images released this week serve as proof of the success of our innovations.
European space ambitions also took another step forwards this week with the launch of the Vega-C rocket successfully lifting off for the first time. This has also provided a boost to Europe’s quest to replace Soyuz, with Vega-C’s first stage also being used for the soon to be launched heavy lift Ariane-6 rocket.
The Indian space sector also continues to show promising signs of growth, with 60 startups so far being set up since the ISRO unlocking of the commercial sector. China has also announced that they will begin developing their space tourism capabilities, and space infrastructure company SpaceChain has completed their blockchain testing in space. The space node, launched in January, now supports their customer (Velas) with its blockchain platform, looking to be one of the most secure and fastest platforms there is.
Is the foundation of decentralisation in space the beginnings of a genuine attempt to keep space matters separate from Earth, or will Earthly politics always influence space?
In some spheres, politics is becoming increasingly intertwined
There are signs that space is quickly becoming politicised, influenced by events happening on Earth. On top what we discussed earlier regarding the ongoing feuds between the US and Russia on ISS, Russia have now ordered their cosmonauts not to use the European robotic arm on the ISS, in protest for the ESA cancelling their cooperative ExoMars mission. Europe will now possibly look to NASA for cooperation on this project.
The cancellation of ExoMars by the ESA is directly related to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which is denounced by Europe and most of the world. Should Europe have allowed politics to influence their decision, or could it be said that it was Russia brought politics literally onto the ISS with the presentation of the Luhansk and Donetsk flags? It all seems to have become a game of “who started it first?”, but one thing is for sure, and that is that politics and space are no longer separate entities.
It’s also been revealed that the Pentagon and SpaceX are working together on using Starship technology to develop capabilities of deploying troops on the far side of the planet, within an hour. SpaceX of course have already been contracted with a number of military projects and satellite payloads for the government, but to what extent can technology be involved with government and military until it is no longer counted as politically-neutral activity?
What are the rules for the commercial sector regarding politicisation? Could the commercial sector take the lead in defining neutral activity?
China stepping up its role in asteroid monitoring and deflection (image: Unsplash)
Neutrality is the only way we can benefit from space (and protect ourselves from it)
It’s clear that there is much to be gained through political neutrality in space. The evidence already exists in the ISS and the much that has been achieved in cooperation between the US, Europe and Russia, despite often polarised political stances.
Technological innovation benefits from a cooperative environment, and these innovations can provide solutions for problems in space, and on Earth. Additive manufacturing is already in use on the ISS and throughout the space sector, and 3D printed rocket tech also provided the industry with more hope this week. Ursa Major, America’s only privately funded company that focuses solely on rocket propulsion, has developed its first copper-printed rocket chambers, bringing development time down from six months to one. Furthermore, Indian company Agnikul Cosmos have opened their factory for 3D printing rocket engines, bringing additive manufacture to the Indian commercial sector.
As industries struggle to maintain supply chains, imagine the benefit these technologies could have in easing bottlenecks, massively reducing development times of not only rocket engines, but much needed to manufacturing lines on Earth. But if we do choose to politicise space and threaten conflict, these innovations may never come to be, or even worse, be used in creating weaponry. Moreover, it’s through neutrality in space that these technologies can be used in order to make space exploration the benefit of humankind.
We must also account for threats that come from outer space, and it seems that China might be looking to take the lead in asteroid monitoring and deflection technology. Their mission in 2026 will aim to impact and monitor near Earth asteroid 2020PN1, whilst they have also begun construction on the world’s most far-reaching radar system in order to boost Earth’s defence. There is no doubt that nations must learn how to put politics aside when dealing with such eventualities.
But as it stands, there seems to simply be too scepticism and wariness of each other in order to confidently lay the foundations for a truly neutral future in space. The establishment of the two opposing space alliances make little effort to hide this, and whilst China’s big push in asteroid deflection technology is certainly admirable, it could be seen from their enemies as a ploy to lure other nations to join their ILRS faction. Similarly, China could accuse Bill Nelson of making baseless accusation about colonising the Moon, and that it is the US who implemented to preventative “Wolf Amendment”, which prevents cooperation between China and Russia. Russia could go on to claim that the US and ESA have allowed events in Ukraine to dictate their policies, and so on.
It appears that it is easy for politics to ooze into the space, and very difficult to get rid of. But, humankind has been able to overcome this before. In the height of the cold war, the US and USSR were able to put their differences aside and ensure the peaceful future in space, by both agreeing abide by the OST, 1967. Now we find ourselves in a similar situation; the beginnings of a new space race, Russia and the west engaging in a new cold war, whilst major milestones being achieved in space yet again.
Hopefully, leaders can overcome these differences once more and maintain peaceful uses of outer space. There is one thing they must remember, and that is that space belongs to no-one. It belongs to us all.
External Links
This Week
*News articles posted here are not property of ANASDA GmbH and belong to their respected owners. Postings here are external links only.
Our future in space
Division is arising between China and US over their intentions on the Moon. (image: Unsplash)
11 - 15 July, 2022
It is crucial that politics in space should remain neutral
WThe International Space Station has been a bastion of international cooperation and a place where Earthly rivalries and disputes are put aside in order to forward humankind’s exploration and knowledge of outer space. Most nations are party to the Outer Space Treaty of 1967, which limit the use of the moon and other celestial bodies for peaceful purposes.
Global innovation from the public and private sector are rapidly brining us closer to our goals, yet over the recent weeks and months we have witnessed political division creeping into the space sector, with no single party to point fingers at. NASA administrator, Bill Nelson, has accused China of militarising space and intending to claim the Moon, with China responding by calling this “irresponsible comments”. Russia was accused of politicising the ISS with cosmonauts holding flags of the region’s of Luhansk and Donetsk, and the rival parties of the Artemis Accords and the Chinese-led ILRS appear to be re-establishing cold war rhetoric.
The technology and the talent is here, and there is so much to gain from our future in space, but will the presence of politics and division threaten our future?
Space not immune from economic fallout, but for now, continues to innovate
There are warning signs beginning to appear that the space sector may not be immune to the looming economic downturn. This could be very damaging for the whole industry, but especially younger startups with longer-term strategies, which rely on early stage investment and venture capital. We can only hope that investment and public finance can still find its way to them, especially after the James Webb images released this week serve as proof of the success of our innovations.
European space ambitions also took another step forwards this week with the launch of the Vega-C rocket successfully lifting off for the first time. This has also provided a boost to Europe’s quest to replace Soyuz, with Vega-C’s first stage also being used for the soon to be launched heavy lift Ariane-6 rocket.
The Indian space sector also continues to show promising signs of growth, with 60 startups so far being set up since the ISRO unlocking of the commercial sector. China has also announced that they will begin developing their space tourism capabilities, and space infrastructure company SpaceChain has completed their blockchain testing in space. The space node, launched in January, now supports their customer (Velas) with its blockchain platform, looking to be one of the most secure and fastest platforms there is.
Is the foundation of decentralisation in space the beginnings of a genuine attempt to keep space matters separate from Earth, or will Earthly politics always influence space?
In some spheres, politics is becoming increasingly intertwined
There are signs that space is quickly becoming politicised, influenced by events happening on Earth. On top what we discussed earlier regarding the ongoing feuds between the US and Russia on ISS, Russia have now ordered their cosmonauts not to use the European robotic arm on the ISS, in protest for the ESA cancelling their cooperative ExoMars mission. Europe will now possibly look to NASA for cooperation on this project.
The cancellation of ExoMars by the ESA is directly related to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which is denounced by Europe and most of the world. Should Europe have allowed politics to influence their decision, or could it be said that it was Russia brought politics literally onto the ISS with the presentation of the Luhansk and Donetsk flags? It all seems to have become a game of “who started it first?”, but one thing is for sure, and that is that politics and space are no longer separate entities.
It’s also been revealed that the Pentagon and SpaceX are working together on using Starship technology to develop capabilities of deploying troops on the far side of the planet, within an hour. SpaceX of course have already been contracted with a number of military projects and satellite payloads for the government, but to what extent can technology be involved with government and military until it is no longer counted as politically-neutral activity?
What are the rules for the commercial sector regarding politicisation? Could the commercial sector take the lead in defining neutral activity?
China stepping up its role in asteroid monitoring and deflection (image: Unsplash)
Neutrality is the only way we can benefit from space (and protect ourselves from it)
It’s clear that there is much to be gained through political neutrality in space. The evidence already exists in the ISS and the much that has been achieved in cooperation between the US, Europe and Russia, despite often polarised political stances. Technological innovation benefits from a cooperative environment, and these innovations can provide solutions for problems in space, and on Earth.
Additive manufacturing is already in use on the ISS and throughout the space sector, and 3D printed rocket tech also provided the industry with more hope this week. Ursa Major, America’s only privately funded company that focuses solely on rocket propulsion, has developed its first copper-printed rocket chambers, bringing development time down from six months to one. Furthermore, Indian company Agnikul Cosmos have opened their factory for 3D printing rocket engines, bringing additive manufacture to the Indian commercial sector.
As industries struggle to maintain supply chains, imagine the benefit these technologies could have in easing bottlenecks, massively reducing development times of not only rocket engines, but much needed to manufacturing lines on Earth. But if we do choose to politicise space and threaten conflict, these innovations may never come to be, or even worse, be used in creating weaponry. Moreover, it’s through neutrality in space that these technologies can be used in order to make space exploration the benefit of humankind.
We must also account for threats that come from outer space, and it seems that China might be looking to take the lead in asteroid monitoring and deflection technology. Their mission in 2026 will aim to impact and monitor near Earth asteroid 2020PN1, whilst they have also begun construction on the world’s most far-reaching radar system in order to boost Earth’s defence. There is no doubt that nations must learn how to put politics aside when dealing with such eventualities.
But as it stands, there seems to simply be too scepticism and wariness of each other in order to confidently lay the foundations for a truly neutral future in space. The establishment of the two opposing space alliances make little effort to hide this, and whilst China’s big push in asteroid deflection technology is certainly admirable, it could be seen from their enemies as a ploy to lure other nations to join their ILRS faction. Similarly, China could accuse Bill Nelson of making baseless accusation about colonising the Moon, and that it is the US who implemented to preventative “Wolf Amendment”, which prevents cooperation between China and Russia. Russia could go on to claim that the US and ESA have allowed events in Ukraine to dictate their policies, and so on.
It appears that it is easy for politics to ooze into the space, and very difficult to get rid of. But, humankind has been able to overcome this before. In the height of the cold war, the US and USSR were able to put their differences aside and ensure the peaceful future in space, by both agreeing abide by the OST, 1967. Now we find ourselves in a similar situation; the beginnings of a new space race, Russia and the west engaging in a new cold war, whilst major milestones being achieved in space yet again.
Hopefully, leaders can overcome these differences once more and maintain peaceful uses of outer space. There is one thing they must remember, and that is that space belongs to no-one. It belongs to us all.
Share this article
External Links
This Week
*News articles posted here are not property of ANASDA GmbH and belong to their respected owners. Postings here are external links only.
11 - 15 July 2022
It is crucial that politics in space should remain neutral
Division is arising between China and US over their intentions on the Moon. (image: Unsplash)
The International Space Station has been a bastion of international cooperation and a place where Earthly rivalries and disputes are put aside in order to forward humankind’s exploration and knowledge of outer space. Most nations are party to the Outer Space Treaty of 1967, which limit the use of the moon and other celestial bodies for peaceful purposes.
Global innovation from the public and private sector are rapidly brining us closer to our goals, yet over the recent weeks and months we have witnessed political division creeping into the space sector, with no single party to point fingers at. NASA administrator, Bill Nelson, has accused China of militarising space and intending to claim the Moon, with China responding by calling this “irresponsible comments”. Russia was accused of politicising the ISS with cosmonauts holding flags of the region’s of Luhansk and Donetsk, and the rival parties of the Artemis Accords and the Chinese-led ILRS appear to be re-establishing cold war rhetoric.
The technology and the talent is here, and there is so much to gain from our future in space, but will the presence of politics and division threaten our future?
Space not immune from economic fallout, but for now, continues to innovate
There are warning signs beginning to appear that the space sector may not be immune to the looming economic downturn. This could be very damaging for the whole industry, but especially younger startups with longer-term strategies, which rely on early stage investment and venture capital. We can only hope that investment and public finance can still find its way to them, especially after the James Webb images released this week serve as proof of the success of our innovations.
European space ambitions also took another step forwards this week with the launch of the Vega-C rocket successfully lifting off for the first time. This has also provided a boost to Europe’s quest to replace Soyuz, with Vega-C’s first stage also being used for the soon to be launched heavy lift Ariane-6 rocket.
The Indian space sector also continues to show promising signs of growth, with 60 startups so far being set up since the ISRO unlocking of the commercial sector. China has also announced that they will begin developing their space tourism capabilities, and space infrastructure company SpaceChain has completed their blockchain testing in space. The space node, launched in January, now supports their customer (Velas) with its blockchain platform, looking to be one of the most secure and fastest platforms there is.
Is the foundation of decentralisation in space the beginnings of a genuine attempt to keep space matters separate from Earth, or will Earthly politics always influence space?
In some spheres, politics is becoming increasingly intertwined
There are signs that space is quickly becoming politicised, influenced by events happening on Earth. On top what we discussed earlier regarding the ongoing feuds between the US and Russia on ISS, Russia have now ordered their cosmonauts not to use the European robotic arm on the ISS, in protest for the ESA cancelling their cooperative ExoMars mission. Europe will now possibly look to NASA for cooperation on this project.
The cancellation of ExoMars by the ESA is directly related to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which is denounced by Europe and most of the world. Should Europe have allowed politics to influence their decision, or could it be said that it was Russia brought politics literally onto the ISS with the presentation of the Luhansk and Donetsk flags? It all seems to have become a game of “who started it first?”, but one thing is for sure, and that is that politics and space are no longer separate entities.
It’s also been revealed that the Pentagon and SpaceX are working together on using Starship technology to develop capabilities of deploying troops on the far side of the planet, within an hour. SpaceX of course have already been contracted with a number of military projects and satellite payloads for the government, but to what extent can technology be involved with government and military until it is no longer counted as politically-neutral activity?
What are the rules for the commercial sector regarding politicisation? Could the commercial sector take the lead in defining neutral activity?
China stepping up its role in asteroid monitoring and deflection (image: Unsplash)
Neutrality is the only way we can benefit from space (and protect ourselves from it)
It’s clear that there is much to be gained through political neutrality in space. The evidence already exists in the ISS and the much that has been achieved in cooperation between the US, Europe and Russia, despite often polarised political stances.
Technological innovation benefits from a cooperative environment, and these innovations can provide solutions for problems in space, and on Earth. Additive manufacturing is already in use on the ISS and throughout the space sector, and 3D printed rocket tech also provided the industry with more hope this week. Ursa Major, America’s only privately funded company that focuses solely on rocket propulsion, has developed its first copper-printed rocket chambers, bringing development time down from six months to one. Furthermore, Indian company Agnikul Cosmos have opened their factory for 3D printing rocket engines, bringing additive manufacture to the Indian commercial sector.
As industries struggle to maintain supply chains, imagine the benefit these technologies could have in easing bottlenecks, massively reducing development times of not only rocket engines, but much needed to manufacturing lines on Earth. But if we do choose to politicise space and threaten conflict, these innovations may never come to be, or even worse, be used in creating weaponry. Moreover, it’s through neutrality in space that these technologies can be used in order to make space exploration the benefit of humankind.
We must also account for threats that come from outer space, and it seems that China might be looking to take the lead in asteroid monitoring and deflection technology. Their mission in 2026 will aim to impact and monitor near Earth asteroid 2020PN1, whilst they have also begun construction on the world’s most far-reaching radar system in order to boost Earth’s defence. There is no doubt that nations must learn how to put politics aside when dealing with such eventualities.
But as it stands, there seems to simply be too scepticism and wariness of each other in order to confidently lay the foundations for a truly neutral future in space. The establishment of the two opposing space alliances make little effort to hide this, and whilst China’s big push in asteroid deflection technology is certainly admirable, it could be seen from their enemies as a ploy to lure other nations to join their ILRS faction. Similarly, China could accuse Bill Nelson of making baseless accusation about colonising the Moon, and that it is the US who implemented to preventative “Wolf Amendment”, which prevents cooperation between China and Russia. Russia could go on to claim that the US and ESA have allowed events in Ukraine to dictate their policies, and so on.
It appears that it is easy for politics to ooze into the space, and very difficult to get rid of. But, humankind has been able to overcome this before. In the height of the cold war, the US and USSR were able to put their differences aside and ensure the peaceful future in space, by both agreeing abide by the OST, 1967. Now we find ourselves in a similar situation; the beginnings of a new space race, Russia and the west engaging in a new cold war, whilst major milestones being achieved in space yet again.
Hopefully, leaders can overcome these differences once more and maintain peaceful uses of outer space. There is one thing they must remember, and that is that space belongs to no-one. It belongs to us all.
Share this article
External Links
This Week
*News articles posted here are not property of ANASDA GmbH and belong to their respected owners. Postings here are external links only.