As India is heading towards lunar missions, it becomes necessary to think over its cooperation at international level and to go for Artemis Accord.
Context
As India is heading towards lunar missions, it becomes necessary to think over its cooperation at international level and to go for Artemis Accord.
About Artemis Accords
- The Artemis Accords are a mechanism by which countries can participate in NASA’s Artemis Programme.
- The programme envisages landing the first woman and the next man on the Moon in 2024, which require international cooperation.
- NASA likely sees this as a natural next step after the collaboration at the International Space Station.
- The Artemis Accords will describe a shared vision for principles, grounded in the Outer Space Treaty of 1967, to create a safe and transparent environment which facilitates exploration, science, and commercial activities for all of humanity to enjoy.
India’s stand
- India’s lunar programme has had limited success.
- It has two missions in orbit.
- The US has collaborated with India on Chandrayaan 1, the first lunar mission.
- India is also collaborating with Japan on a future lunar mission, called LUPEX, to the Moon’s surface. Japan is also a signatory to the Artemis Accords.
- The US, France, Germany and Italy in Europe, and Japan have also offered help to India with human spaceflight training.
- India also depends on Ukraine for semi-cryogenic engines and Ukraine is a signatory to the accords.
- These various dependencies in advanced space technologies make up an important background to understand the context in which India is operating. They may play a role in India’s decision on whether to join the Artemis Accords.
- The Artemis Accords provides a similar opportunity to learn about interplanetary missions and human spaceflight. India must take advantage of this opportunity.
