A possible defender of future NASA bases on the moon could be the Pentagon. The agencies are increasing cooperation between civil and military projects against the background of external threats, The Wall Street Journal reports, citing sources.
It is noted that the protection of the Pentagon will also apply to American commercial operations for the extraction of water and minerals on the Moon. The agencies also plan to study the region around the Moon and extend the service life of the satellites. Many details of the projects are classified or are being developed.
As the publication emphasizes, the reason for such a joint effort was the growing external threat from Moscow and Beijing, which are aimed at challenging American space interests. In particular, this can be done with the help of anti-satellite weapons, silencers and other "potentially hostile technologies," the article says. The Pentagon intends to use civilian experience to gain an advantage in this potential area of warfare.
In October last year, NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) signed the Artemis agreements, which provide for the joint creation of the Gateway lunar orbiting station. Roscosmos CEO Dmitry Rogozin refused to sign the agreements, saying that the Artemis program and the associated Gateway lunar station are " American-centric."
Alexander Maksimenko
