In a recent conversation, Rodrigo Leonardi, Director of the Brazilian Space Agency, and Mike Gold, Chief Growth Officer at Redwire Corporation, discussed the Artemis Accords, a set of principles to govern the civil exploration and use of outer space.
The Artemis Accords, with 36 member nations, include both Western and non-Western states from Latin America, the Asia-Pacific region, Africa, and the Middle East. Key members like Brazil, India, and the UAE, are also part of BRICS.
Within BRICS, nations like Egypt, Russia, and South Africa support China’s International Lunar Research Station (ILRS), potentially complicating matters. No nation has signed both the Artemis Accords and the ILRS, raising questions about simultaneous commitments. This dilemma prompts scrutiny of how BRICS nations will manage their roles in lunar exploration and Earth-based alliances.
The US must navigate relationships with nations tied to both the US and China, adding complexity to lunar governance. Understanding how geopolitics on Earth intersect with lunar alliances becomes crucial for shaping space governance’s future.
