Artemis Accords face hurdles as Moon's safety zones remain undefined

Human space exploration often lasts for decades once it gains momentum. The Artemis program has shown resilience, surviving budget cuts and shifting political priorities. Yet key challenges remain, particularly around safety zones and property rights on the Moon. The Artemis Accords, signed by multiple nations since 2020, aim to set guidelines for lunar operations. Recent signatories include Senegal, Norway, Bangladesh, and Germany. However, the accords lack clear definitions on which activities require safety zones or how large they should be.

China, a major player in lunar exploration, is not part of the accords. This absence complicates efforts to establish shared safety standards. The United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) could serve as a forum for these discussions, but no binding regulations exist yet. Companies also face uncertainty over property rights on the Moon. Without legal clarity, scaling up operations becomes difficult. Despite these hurdles, the lunar presence—though possibly smaller than first expected—is likely to endure, following the pattern of long-lasting space programmes like the ISS.

The Artemis program continues to move forward, but unresolved issues persist. Safety zones remain undefined, and China's exclusion from the accords adds complexity. Without clear rules, both nations and private firms will struggle to operate effectively on the Moon.