Russia says Trump planning to take over planets with new space order

The new executive order signed on Monday says the US does not recognise space as a global common

An aurora in the Earth's atmosphere is seen from the International Space Station, in this image published June 10, 2019. NASA handout via Reuters, file

The Russian space agency, Roscosmos, has accused Donald Trump of creating a basis to take over other planets by signing an executive order outlining US policy on commercial mining in space.

The executive order, which Roscosmos said damaged the scope for international cooperation in space, was signed on Monday.

The new order largely clarifies the existing US position – that companies should be able to profit of space resources. In 2015 congress signed a bill to allow Americans to use resources on the moon and passing asteroids.

The new presidential order goes one step further to state that US citizens should have the right to engage in such activity and that "outer space is a legally and physically unique domain of human activity, and the United States does not view it as a global commons".

It said the United States would seek to negotiate "joint statements and bilateral and multilateral arrangements with foreign states regarding safe and sustainable operations for the public and private recovery and use of space resources".

UAE in space

ISS crew members Jessica Meir of the US, Oleg Skripochka of Russia and Hazza Al Mansouri of the UAE walk to the launchpad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan. Shamil Zhumatov / Reuters

The Soyuz-FG rocket booster with Soyuz MS-15 space ship carrying a new crew to the International Space Station, ISS, blasts off at the Russian leased Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan. AP Photo

The Soyuz MS-15 rocket blasts off to the ISS. AFP

The Soyuz MS-15 rocket carrying three crew members of the International Space Station (ISS) blasts off to the ISS. AFP

The Soyuz-FG rocket booster with Soyuz MS-15 space ship carrying a new crew to the International Space Station, ISS, blasts off at the Russian leased Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhsta. AP Photo

The Soyuz MS-15 rocket flies moments after blasting off to the ISS. AFP

The Soyuz MS-15 rocket carrying three crew members of the International Space Station (ISS) flies moments after blasting off. AFP

The Russian Soyuz booster rocket FG with Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft lifts off from the launch pad at Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. EPA

The astronauts give a final wave as they ascend the steps of the Soyuz. Maxim Shipenkov / AFP

The three astronauts ascend the steps of the Soyuz. Maxim Shipenkov / AFP

Jessica Meir, Oleg Skripochka and Hazza Ali Al Mansouri approach the launchpad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. Shamil Zhumatov / Reuters

Russian Space Agency experts help Hazza Al Mansouri, member of the main crew of the expedition to the International Space Station, to sit during an inspection of his space suit prior the launch of Soyuz MS-15 space ship on Wednesday. Dmitri Lovetsky / AP

US astronaut Jessica Meir has her space suit inspected ahead of the launch. Dmitri Lovetsky / AP

Russian Space Agency experts help Russian cosmonaut Oleg Skripochka stand up after inspecting his space suit. Dmitri Lovetsky / AP

Oleg Skripochka has his space suit inspected before launch. Dmitri Lovetsky / AP

Jessica Meir waves prior the launch of Soyuz MS-15 space ship. Dmitri Lovetsky / AP

Hazza Al Mansouri throws up the three-fingered hand signal synonymous with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and that stands for 'winning, victory and love'. Dmitri Lovetsky / AP

Hazza Al Mansouri waves prior the launch of Soyuz MS-15 space ship. Dmitri Lovetsky / AP

Hazza Al Mansouri waves to relatives from a bus prior to the launch of the Soyuz rocket at 5.56pm. Dmitri Lovetsky / AP Photo

His sons and daughter shared a final moment together, pressing their hands against the class of the bus before the crew left for the launchpad. AFP

His sons and daughter shared a final moment together, pressing their hands against the class of the bus before the crew left for the launchpad. EPA

His sons and daughter shared a final moment together, pressing their hands against the class of the bus before the crew left for the launchpad. AFP

Hazza Al Mansouri holds up the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre crest. mission. AFP

Hazza Al Mansouri, Oleg Skripochka and Jessica Meir leave a hotel and board a bus to the launch pad. They are scheduled to blast off for ISS at 5.56pm UAE time. EPA

Hazza Al Mansouri, Oleg Skripochka and Jessica Meir wave to crowds as they leave for the launch pad. EPA

Hazza Al Mansouri with cosmonaut Oleg Skripochka and Nasa astronaut Jessica Meir, who is part of the landmark first all-female spacewalk.

Hazza Al Mansouri waves to crowds as they leave for the launch pad. EPA

Roscosmos said the order put the United States at odds with the notion of space belonging to all humanity.

"Attempts to expropriate outer space and aggressive plans to actually seize territories of other planets hardly set the countries [on course for] fruitful cooperation," its statement said.

Relations between Russia and the United States are at post-Cold War lows, but cooperation on space has continued despite an array of differences over everything from Ukraine to accusations of election meddling.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that "any kind of attempt to privatise space in one form or another - and I find it difficult to say now whether this can be seen as an attempt to privatise space - would be unacceptable".

NASA, the US space agency, is aiming to return humans to the Moon and wants to build a permanent base on Earth's nearest neighbour before the end of the decade. The new order simply clarifies Washington's position on materials in space, officials said.

"As America prepares to return humans to the moon and journey on to Mars, this executive order establishes US policy toward the recovery and use of space resources, such as water and certain minerals, in order to encourage the commercial development of space," said Scott Pace, deputy assistant to the president and executive secretary of the US National Space Council.

Mr Trump has repeatedly promised to send astronauts to the moon, something no nation has done since 1972.

Initially, Nasa had planned to return to the Moon by 2028.

Last year, Vice President Mike Pence said, "That's just not good enough. We're better than that. It took us eight years to get to the moon, the first time, 50 years ago, when we had never done it before".