タグ: cooperation in space

Chang’e 5 Moon Mission On The Way.

November 24 saw the launch of China’s ambitious moon mission to retrieve samples from the lunar surface and return them to Earth. This is the first attempt to bring lunar materials back since the 1970s.

The launch, from Hainan province, was at 4:30am. The Chang’e 5 vehicle was blasted into space aboard China’s reliable Long March 5 rocket. It is a 4-part system consisting of:

  • Orbiter
  • Lander
  • Ascender
  • Re-entry capsule

The mission will be fairly short with a total of 23 days turn around time, and a brief stay of just one lunar day (4 Earth days). Surface samples and drilled samples will be collected and returned to Earth. China plans to share the data and research with other nations around the world.

Greater cooperation among space faring nations will benefit all nations and advance the cause of science on Earth and enable even more ambitious exploration of space.

Photo: China National Space Administration CNSA

Artemis Accords Call for Cooperation on the Moon and Beyond.

            by David Parmer /Tokyo

America’s National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) on May 15th proposed the Artemis Accords, a set of agreements between NASA and its partners for safety and cooperation in the lunar environment. The Accords build off of the 1967 Outer Space Treaty which calls for the peaceful use of outer space.

NASA’s Partners in the Artemis Project include:

  • Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
  • European Space Agency (ESA)
  • Canadian Space Agency (CSA)
  • Australian Space Agency (ASA)

The Artemis Accords set standards for cooperative actions and activities during Artemis and beyond. These include:

  • Transparency
  • Interoperability
  • Emergency Assistance
  • Registration of Space Objects
  • Release of Scientific Data
  • Protecting heritage Lunar sites
  • Space resource extraction
  • Deconfliction of activities
  • Orbital debris and spacecraft disposal

The project involves several cooperative and complex engineering systems including a massive launch vehicle called the Space Launch System, the Orion Spacecraft, the Lunar Gateway (which is a mini space station), a Moon Cruiser vehicle, and a Human Landing System.

Two major goals of the Artemis project, besides getting back to the Moon, is to assist private companies to build a lunar economy and to create a base to launch Mars exploration. 

We have to applaud NASA: if we can’t get to Peace on Earth yet, maybe we can at least get to Peace in Space. What do you think? Let us know.

Photo: Join The Artemis Generation by NASA