Space Matters
At a Glance:
Russia-China and US-Japan astropolitical balancing continues
New details from last month’s French Space Command simulation exercises emerge
European Space Agency publishes new agenda
Russia flies new ISS crew members onboard Commerical Soyuz mission
Europa Report is a great space horror Sci-Fi flick
I appear on Clayming Space Podcast
The Great Game for Space
Astropolitical Balancing vis a vis China-Russia and Japan-US continues
According to a report in Space News, ROSCOSMOS the Russian state space agency is optimistic that it will be able to iron out details of the join Moon exploration and scientific base agreement. ROSCOSMOS has already signed an MoU with China and further negotiations will take place at Global Space Exploration Conference 2021(GLEX 2021).
China and Russia have both rejected any prospect of co-operation with the US in its Artemis Accords and NASA led Artemis programme. Instead, choosing to elevate their geopolitical rivalry with US to astropolitical levels and presenting an alternative to the countries averse to the US led hegemonic order.
A Japanese Air Self Defence Force Officer will now be a liaison to US Space Command
According to a press release by US Space Command(USSPACECOM) the Japanese Air Self Defence Force(JASDF) has signed an agreement with them. The agreement is meant for basing a liaison officer at the SPACECOM headquarters and will be an important development in boosting co-operation between Japan and US.
Japan is a signatory to the Artemis Accords and an important partner in NASA’s Artemis programme. Japan and US also share a common geopolitical interest in counter balancing Russian and Chinese capabilities in space exploration and militarisation.
New Details about French Space Command Exercises Emerge
New details have emerged about last month’s simulation exercises which saw participation from some French security partners in NATO i.e. US Space Force and Germany. The French Ministry of Defence has published a few screenshots from the simulation exercises which show both adversarial and allied Anti Satellite capabilities.
Source: French Ministry of Defence
New Launches, Gear and Plans
ESA has a new Agenda
The European Space Agency(ESA) has published a new agenda document laying out the priorities of the ESA. The document is as the new ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher says is an attempt to spark “a serious debate on where Europe wants to be in the next 10-15 years”.
This is a clear signal that the document has aims including reassessing priorities for the ESA, calibrating and restructuring its ongoing and future projects for maximum efficiency and reward.
Russia launches new multinational crew members to ISS
According to this report in Space News, a Soyuz 2.1a spacecraft successfully blasted off and delivered a crew to the International Space Station(ISS). The mission was carrying two Russian and one American crew members. The mission is part of a new paradigm of flying astronauts on commercially available rides on Russian Soyuz missions.
Space in Media
Europa Report: Europa Report is a well executed and engaging Sci-Fi horror film about a future mission to Europa a moon of Jupiter. The astronauts onboard the mission in the film are multinational and multi-ethnic. The mission ends in disaster with the astronauts succumbing to accidents and then to the horrors of alien life beyond human comprehension on the surface of Europa.
Interesting Publications and Resources:
I recently appeared on the Clayming Space Podcast discussing the Indian Space Industry and Militarisation of Space.
An interesting commentary chronologising the history of US-Soviet Space Co-operation
A podcast on the history of Solid Fuelled Rocket development in India