ARTEMIS ACCORDS AND CHINA CONTAINMENT
There can be no doubt that that China is a "space player." In a very short time, that nation has successfully landed probes on the Moon, including the very difficult task of landing a probe on the "far" side of the Moon, a task requiring the insertion of a relay communications satellite in lunar orbit. All this followed the successful landing of the "Jade Rabbit" probe on the "close" side a few years ago, which probe proceeded to take some very interesting pictures, and then China didn't talk much about them. China is not, of course, the only nation recently to have sent probes to the Moon, take pictures, and then not talk about them. India has, though it has experienced some difficulty, and a few years ago, Japan sent a probe packed with all sorts of stuff, did some tomography, snapped a few pictures, and released a couple of the "more interesting" ones without comment, and then pretty much shut up and didn't talk about them, and as far as we know, probably has lots more interesting pictures it's not only not talking about, but not sharing either.
And of course, everyone is talking about mining the Moon, setting up permanent bases there to do that, and to use the Moon as a springboard to Mars. NASA's recent contract to private corporations to go to the Moon and bring back some Moon rocks means that the race is on again, and let's not forget the articles in recent years about setting up 4G and 5G networks on the Moon. Israel has even proposed establishing a kind of Lunar Library of Alexandria - an archive - on the Moon.
There's something else to add to this context before we get to today's actual story shared by J.B. and many others, and that "something else" isn't about what's going on "up there" but rather what's going on "down here", and that is the emergence of what others have been calling the "Quad" and what I've been calling the "Quadruple Entente," a bloc of major and minor powers in the western Pacific and Asia that regarding China's growing bellicosity with some alarm, powers that include Japan and India, which recently signed a bilateral mutual logistical assistance pact, Australia and of course the United States. I've been arguing that the real quiet member of this arrangement might be Russia, which certainly has been sending signals of its own to China.
With that in mind, consider the story shared by J.B. and many others (with a big thanks to all who brought it to my attention):
8 nations sign US-led Artemis Accords for moon exploration and beyond
As the article notes, the "Artemis Accords" are specifically designed to "internationalize" the Moon and other asset-rich celestial bodies:
NASA's moon-exploring coalition is starting to come together.
Eight nations have signed the Artemis Accords, a set of principles outlining the responsible exploration of Earth's nearest neighbor, NASA officials announced today (Oct. 13).
The path is now clear for those eight nations — Australia, Canada, Japan, Luxembourg, Italy, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates and (unsurprisingly) the U.S. — to participate in NASA's Artemis program of crewed lunar exploration. Artemis aims to land two astronauts near the lunar south pole in 2024 and establish a sustainable human presence on and around the moon by the end of the decade — bold goals that NASA aims to achieve with the help of international and private-sector partners.
...
The Artemis Accords serve as a preamble to bilateral, government-to-government agreements that participating nations will sign with the U.S. Those future agreements will lay out each country's specific contribution to the Artemis program, while the newly signed accords "establish norms of behavior and rules for space operations," Bridenstine said.
For example, signatories to the Artemis Accords affirm, among other things, that they will conduct all space activities peacefully and in accordance with international law; help protect space heritage, such as the Apollo landing sites; publicly release scientific data in a timely manner; render aid to astronauts who need it; and make their hardware and other systems "interoperable" to maximize cooperative use.
The Accords are designed to defuse off-Earth conflicts before they flare up, Bridenstine said.
Note the nations that have thus far signed the accords: Australia, Canada, Japan, Luxembourg, Italy, the United Kingdom, the U.A.E., and the U.S.A. Looking at that list, I believe it's highly significant that three of the four "Quad" members are present: the U.S.A., Japan, and Australia. Two other Commonwealth countries - the U.K. and Canada - are involved, which, though India is usually reckoned as a "Quad" member and is missing from this list, indicates perhaps that inevitably it will join the Artemis accords. Similarly, those two of those three nations are members of my hypothesized "Quadruple Entente", where the fourth member is not Australia, but Russia.
Russia, however, has been stalling on signing the accords (see
For a different view of Russia's position, see
https://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2020/05/25/can-nasa-artemis-accords-spark-us-russia-alliance/
But with or without Russia, I strongly suspect that the Artemis Accords were designed from the outset to be part of the geopolitical realignment taking place on Earth to contain China, and that means containing China in space. They symbolize the determination to allow no one power to monopolize space. But looking more closely at the current list of signatories, one also notes the heavy presence of "the Anglosphere" (the USA, UK, Canada, Australia) and their close allies (Japan). Indeed, looking at that list, one also sees four out of the five nations composing the"Five Eyes" intelligence sharing network (the missing member being New Zealand), and Japan has recently indicated a willingness to join that network. Notably missing, thus far, are the two major European space powers - France and Germany - though Italy's presence may be an indication of things to come.
It is a risky policy, because China has not only demonstrated the determination to be "first in space" but also demonstrated the capability to do so. The Artemis Signatories have demonstrated a lot of talk and "big plans" but so far haven't done anything significant in space, like landing probes on the far side of the Moon. In short, they're all playing catch-up, and will have to demonstrate the actual ability to get things done. Should they fail, then the unraveling of "the Quad" will begin "up there" and may reach "down here." After all, space is a winner take all proposition.
See you on the flip side...
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Anything in there about banning fuzzy photos?
Which reminds me of this charlie brown cartoon, (requires javascript). Fuzzy face, good grief! sigh!
https://www.gocomics.com/peanuts/1958/01/22
Heinlein in Moon is a harsh mistress had the mon-earth thing strategically as sitting on top of a well, throwing rocks… a Holy book has it that it is ok to throw someone in a large hole with a ladder in it, and to remove the ladder and walk away, no harm!
I guess the ladder would be any individuals ability to fly fly away from here “unassisted” and untaxed for it.
This is all so confusing because anyone who has been following the UFO “scene” KNOWS there are already various Space Programs out there. ???
So….what is THIS maneuvering all about? Just a change in whichever 1%ers are going to be in charge now?? Seems quite apparent that the “China taking over the World” time is a thing of the past now with the Biden scandal in full swing.
Do we the Normies EVER know what is really going on?!!
ArsTechnica had a good article and many informed comments on this subject:
https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/10/nasa-builds-support-for-artemis-by-signing-accords-with-seven-countries/
Earlier article and good comments:
https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/05/nasa-creates-artemis-accords-in-effort-to-extend-its-values-to-the-moon/
There is an old debating strategy where one jumps out in front to try to control the subject matter. If one can determine what subjects are on the table and which are never mentioned, that is half the battle. I see that here. And the early signing of most of the “Five Eyes” nations gives a ‘weight’ to the current document. Inertia, as it were. Clever…
The problem is the real leaders of Europe and the Americas are not and have never been adults. Artemis is a obsolete chemical rocket propulsion system. What NASA should have done is have Boeing revive and update its X20 space plane and build a space ship fleet in orbit. It should have come up with the idea of pooling money to pay for this by joining with other countries fifty years ago.
Talk and signing commitment papers are one thing. Doing the heavy lifting in resources, technology, and fabrication is another matter moving forward with consignee’s and essential logistical support. Militaries will still be needed until true cooperation makes them background burner concerns. There’re the practical concerns in [shared] research and development and respective backups should failures from unknown sources throw a tire iron into the spokes and gears of the machinery. There’re at least nine players on a baseball field at any one time; Not two.
Does anyone know why the effort to go the moon was on hold for so long?
If you are talking about manned missions, NASA itself admits it has yet to figure out a viable vehicle which can shield astronauts from the intense radiation in space and on the moon, as well as micro-meteor impacts which will zip right through most anything. Among many other problems, such as the dangers of moon dust gumming up the works, and the +450 degree swings in lunar temperatures between sun and shadow.
Werner von Braun, Grumman and Playtex, however, had it all fired out in ’69 but somehow it’s all lost.
*figured
Hi Basta, that little human health problem and the now deceasing launch costs are big hurdles.
For me, the most interesting part of the Artemis Accords is the governance of robotic activities in accordance with “due regard” under Section 11.
Here’s some end of the twig thoughts for you:
Every where I turn, I seem to see the same theme, “Something is coming,” and “they’re” in a hurry.
I’m beginning to wonder if it isn’t our cousins 0r our share holders coming to collect (harvest?). Jupiter Ascending really rang home to me. Perhaps sending an ark to the Moon or Mars is akin to some sort of “base” as in the game of tag or baseball.
My frame from this headliner[containment] shifts immediately to Earth’s containment w/in the framework of galactic an governance structure; wondering what that is, if indeed, one exists.
On to today’s blog …
Regarding China’s use and development of space/moon technologies; I have to wonder what techs were created; or given; or stolen and/or by which nations, and/or non-nation states – exopolitical players?
The real questions are what kinds of secrets were uncovered? Not only by China, but other nation, or non-nation states?
[again leading to ancient technologies, and a question of Earth’s possible containment? Then there’s building out manufacturing infrastructure w/today’s 3-D printing capabilities. The there’s those space manufacturing abilities not subject to public knowledge. Then there’s the hidden presence of the dominant player in all this “space” – AI?
The irony of this moon accord treaty is that no nation is going to trust any other nation. That accord is simply to stop China. A beginning version of the children’s game: musical chairs.
Are there more than one treaty?
Are there separate treaties?
Are there “not-for-public” agreements, w/in this public version?
In short, are the public, at large, being information shorted?
In short, the treaty is a California fig leaf;
being set-up to be burn for profit & power.
Ah! Russia is acting like an adult.
It doesn’t want to play any Reindeer Games.
There is no Santa Claus giving away the moons or planets.
This puts a cramp on wannabe spacefaring East India Companies.
No doubt about.
All the passengers of the East Orient Express are capable of killing; together as one; or, by taking one out at a time; until one is left … owing space?
One acknowledge commercial reason is mining; not only on the moon, but asteroids as well.
I share the same concerns Robert. To me, the contract reads as a lose:lose for the bulk of the people of earth, save those cartels disguised as NGO’s, Government Agencies, Hedge Funds, etc. Is this some sort of non-disclosure contract between the movers and shakers, to keep the cattle corralled?
I don’t think India join the Artemis, it is not just India, US refused it. Pentagon was keen that India should join, but NASA refused it.
Whatever the case India now on a different path to the moon with Russia.
And I am 99% sure India would not be part of Artemis.
Also, 5-6 years ago India proposed to join ISS, they refused it also.
The US sees India as a future rival, the US not going to help in creating another China.
And if people still believe US-India doing huggy huggy to each other. Then read this, It was only to target India
https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/restrict-hypersonic-missiles-to-us-russia-china-think-tank/1156079
Because of this, it forced India to do this
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/drdo-successfully-tests-hypersonic-technology-demonstrator-vehicle/article32541422.ece
Make no mistake, this is an alliance of convenience right now, we are not friends.
Originally, Ashtanga yoga must have had diametrical oppositions.
Center of circle is the balancing point of diametrical oppositions.
Center is the point of balance, in the Druidic Triad. Kairos balances Chronos and Eon.
“If a nation is centered in the Tao… it will be a light to all nations in the world.” – Tao Te Ching.
Dire Straits: https://youtu.be/T-3qF8v9CTw
“They” are revving up to something, and thus my crazy speculation that within 6 months’ time the media mouthpieces will have dropped the scamdemic issue, after bleeding it (and the economy) dry, and “suddenly” discovered a new “invisible enemy”.
VATICAN LUNACY
Pope Nero-Caligula, the morbid Molochist,
seeks to carpet bomb with iron fist,
any heathen opposition
to Jesuit mission,
and burn at stake those who resist.
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/ccsirsai003ocg3/featherless-chicken.jpg