ARTEMIS ACCORDS
1. Context
On June 21, 2023, India became the 27th signatory to the Artemis Accords, a set of nonbinding guidelines that underpin the Artemis programme, a U.S.led project to return humans to the moon permanently.
2. Artemis Program
- It aims to establish a lunar base, deploy spacecraft, build an orbiting space station, and launch a constellation of satellites for navigation and communication.
- First crewed mission to the moon's surface expected in 2026.
- Bears similarities to the Chinese-Russian "International Lunar Research Station" plan.
- With Russia facing sanctions, China has taken the lead in the project.
- China also plans for a permanent lunar base and satellite constellation.
- Lunar exploration is seen as a symbol of national pride and a competitive element in the US-China rivalry.
- Leaders hope that the challenges of lunar exploration will drive technological innovation.
- Establishing norms and multinational collaborations in space signifies international power.
- The Artemis Accords support a US-friendly interpretation of space law.
- Member states participating in the Artemis program gain prestige and technological benefits.
3. Space Law and Agreements
- Modern space law is based on four international agreements established between 1967 and 1976.
- These agreements cover issues such as the peaceful use of space, registration, and liability.
- The Moon Agreement, introduced in 1979, was not signed by the US or the Soviet Union. India signed but did not ratify it.
- The Artemis Accords align with the principles of these agreements.
- A provision in the Artemis Accords allows for the extraction and utilization of space resources.
- This provision may contradict the Moon Agreement, which calls for the distribution of gains from commercial lunar resource exploitation.
- Despite the potential conflict, countries like Australia and France, which previously signed the Moon Agreement, have become Artemis signatories.
- The provisions of both the Accords and the Moon Agreement are vague enough for lawyers to interpret and comply with both sets of rules.
- Resource extraction in the Artemis program is expected to focus on using lunar soil for habitat construction and lunar ice for sustaining life.
4. India and the Artemis Accords
- The Artemis Accords were drafted in 2020, coinciding with India's opening of its space sector to private players.
- Initially, India's status as a signatory to the Moon Agreement may have caused hesitation.
- However, India found reassurance in the cases of Australia and France, who signed the Accords despite being Moon Agreement signatories.
- India's new space policy allows private players to engage in the mining of "space resources."
- India's diplomatic practice has shifted, as it previously preferred legally-binding instruments over informal norms.
- India's acceptance of the U.S.-led norms indicates a change in thinking.
- Deep divisions between the U.S. and China make it unlikely for them to agree on a new international law on the Moon until their ties improve.
- India-U.S. ties have been improving, leading to less hesitation in Delhi about joining an American-led international effort.
5. Financial Implications and India's Space Program
- Signing the Artemis Accords does not have immediate financial implications for India.
- To become a major player in the Artemis program, ISRO would require a significant increase in its annual budget, which is currently around ₹12,500 crore.
- ISRO's lunar exploration program, including the upcoming Chandrayaan-3 mission, is impressive but modest compared to other countries.
- India's independent human spaceflight project, Gaganyaan, may take three years or more to send humans into space.
- India needs to address domestic resistance to collaboration with other space agencies, facilitate private sector involvement in the Artemis program, and develop supportive space legislation.
- The writer of this information is a research fellow at The Takshashila Institution.
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For Prelims: Artemis Programme, Lunar exploration, Takshashila Institution, Artemis Accords, Moon Agreement, International Lunar Research Station, Gaganyaan, and US-China rivalry.
For Mains: 1. Discuss the implications of India signing the Artemis Accords and its impact on the country's space program and international collaboration. (250 Words)
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Source: The Hindu
