Spaceflight

A joint framework for a global space exploration strategy enabling vehicle interoperability and property rights agreements has been made public by its authors - 14 of the world's space agencies and organisations.

The voluntary framework allows governments to opt into joint missions, share scientific data and participate in an international coordination mechanism, or forum.

Through the framework, mission communications and control, life support and manned spacecraft docking systems could be agreed to enable interoperability.

The forum, meanwhile, could help resolve issues of future property rights on the Moon and Mars and enable agreement on the protection of sites of interest.

But the 25-page strategy document stresses the voluntary nature of space bodies' membership.

"We are interested in a variable geometry, following our own interests in a co-ordinated way," says British National Space Centre space science director David Parker, speaking at last week's third Italian Space Agency/European Space Agency workshop on international co-operation for sustainable exploration.

The framework document was drawn up earlier this year and is now approved by all those involved.

They include Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, the Indian Space Research Organisation, the Korean Aerospace Research Institute, NASA, Russia's Federal Space Agency and the Ukrainian space agency.