r/FutureWhatIf • • 4h ago

Political/Financial [FWI] NOTHING happens/is upended between Election Day and January.

3 Upvotes

r/FutureWhatIf • • 10h ago

Science/Space [FWI] Psychoanalysts group Artemis Accords members by Jungian archetype.

1 Upvotes

Artemis Accords signatories by Jungian archetype

All 76 current signatories (per NASA, last updated Oct 7, 2026) are sorted into 11 Jungian archetypes by what each country actually brings to lunar exploration; the Everyman is the largest group at 13, and only two nations, Thailand and Senegal, fit the Outlaw.

At a glance

Archetype Count Defining contribution
Everyman 13 Steady membership: signs, hosts payloads, follows norms
Innocent 9 Idealistic newcomers and microstates with nascent programs
Caregiver 8 Earth observation, disaster response, development
Explorer 8 Spaceports, remote terrain, observatories
Hero 6 Landed, launched or flown crews beyond Earth orbit
Creator 6 Flight hardware and industrial supply chains
Sage 6 Science, data and research institutions
Magician 6 NewSpace, small-sat and digital-state innovation
Lover 7 Alliance-building and diplomatic bridging
Ruler 5 Law-making, funding and program steering
Outlaw 2 Hedging between the Accords and China's ILRS

The Jester has no clear fit, so it is left empty.

Ruler (5)

These nations set rules and steer money and program direction.

Country Signed What they bring
United States Oct 13, 2020 Founder and steward with the State Department; SLS and Orion, the crewed Artemis II flight (Apr 2026), HLS landers and the planned south-pole Moon Base
United Kingdom Oct 13, 2020 Founding signatory; strong in national space licensing and regulation
Luxembourg Oct 13, 2020 Founding signatory; early national space-resources law and investment fund
France Jun 7, 2022 Signed on the 60th anniversary of its space program; CNES and Europe's launch anchor
Saudi Arabia Jul 14, 2022 Saudi Space Commission; heavy state funding; fourth Middle Eastern signatory

Hero (6)

These nations have flown crews, landed on the Moon or built the launchers to try.

Country Signed What they bring
Canada Oct 13, 2020 Jeremy Hansen flew on Artemis II; Canadarm3 for Gateway, now paused
Japan Oct 13, 2020 Pressurized lunar rover with a seat on a landing mission; lunar landing demonstrated in 2024
South Korea May 24, 2021 Danuri lunar orbiter and the Nuri launcher
Israel Jan 26, 2022 Beresheet, an early privately built lunar lander attempt (crashed 2019)
India Jun 22, 2023 Chandrayaan-3 south-polar-region landing (2023); signed during Modi's state visit
Türkiye Aug 31, 2026 First Turkish astronaut on the ISS and the Türksat 6A satellite; hosts IAC 2026

Creator (6)

These nations build flight hardware and industrial supply chains.

Country Signed What they bring
Italy Oct 13, 2020 Multi-Purpose Habitation module agreement with NASA via ASI; co-chaired the 2024 Principals' Meeting in Milan
United Arab Emirates Oct 13, 2020 Gateway crew and science airlock (Gateway paused Mar 2026); hosted a May 2025 Accords workshop
Czech Republic May 3, 2023 ESA member with an instrument and electronics supply chain; signed by its foreign minister
Spain May 30, 2023 Industrial base and the reusable-launcher developer PLD Space
Argentina Jul 27, 2023 INVAP-built satellites and radar through CONAE
Germany Sep 14, 2023 DLR-led; builder of Orion's European Service Module through ESA

Explorer (8)

These nations offer frontier geography: spaceports, remote terrain and dark skies.

Country Signed What they bring
Australia Oct 13, 2020 Founding signatory; focused on bringing in new Indo-Pacific signatories
New Zealand May 31, 2021 Rocket Lab's Mahia launch site
Brazil Jun 15, 2021 First Latin American signer; Alcântara launch center
Iceland Oct 10, 2023 Lunar-analog volcanic terrain
Sweden Apr 16, 2024 Esrange launch and tracking site in the Arctic
Chile Oct 25, 2024 Atacama Desert observatories
Norway May 15, 2025 Andøya spaceport
Oman Jan 26, 2026 Etlaq spaceport, which has attracted launcher developers such as PLD Space; signed at the Middle East Space Conference

Sage (6)

These nations contribute research institutions, instruments and data.

Country Signed What they bring
Poland Oct 26, 2021 Signed at IAC Dubai; its agency aims to develop indigenous space technology
Netherlands Nov 1, 2023 Netherlands Space Office; hosts ESA's technical center
Belgium Jan 23, 2024 Strong space-science institutes, notably in aeronomy
Switzerland Apr 15, 2024 University-led instruments and science; signed by a Federal Councillor
Denmark Nov 13, 2024 Technical-university space research and instruments
Austria Dec 11, 2024 Space-research institutes; signed alongside Panama as the 49th and 50th signatories

Magician (6)

These nations punch above their size through small satellites, software and digital government.

Country Signed What they bring
Singapore Mar 28, 2022 Trade-ministry-led; a hub for commercial space and satellite services
Lithuania May 15, 2024 Became the 40th signatory; small-satellite and laser-tech ecosystem
Estonia Oct 13, 2024 Became the 45th signatory; digital-state and software strengths
Finland Jan 21, 2025 Commercial radar small-satellite industry
Portugal Jan 11, 2026 Became the 60th signatory; Atlantic launch and small-satellite ambitions
Latvia Apr 20, 2026 Became the 62nd signatory; small-satellite and photonics niche

Everyman (13)

These nations are the dependable core: modest national programs, strong commitment to shared norms, and mostly ministry-level signings. Their value is the headcount and the norms they back, not flight hardware.

Country Signed Signing context
Mexico Dec 9, 2021 Signed by the foreign secretary
Romania Mar 1, 2022 Signed by the head of its space agency
Bulgaria Nov 9, 2023 Signed at NASA Headquarters as the 32nd signatory
Greece Feb 9, 2024 Signed by the foreign minister
Slovenia Apr 19, 2024 Joined during a cluster of spring 2024 signings
Slovakia May 30, 2024 Joined the same day as Peru
Cyprus Oct 23, 2024 Became the 46th signatory
Hungary Oct 22, 2025 Foreign minister signed beside Secretary of State Rubio
Malaysia Oct 26, 2025 Signed on the sidelines of the ASEAN summits
Ireland May 4, 2026 Signed the same day as Malta
Serbia Jul 16, 2026 Signed by the foreign minister
Albania Sep 21, 2026 Became the 73rd signatory, at NASA Headquarters
Croatia Sep 23, 2026 Signed two days after Albania

Caregiver (8)

These are mostly emerging space nations in Africa and Asia whose programs lean toward Earth observation, disaster response and development, a natural match for the Accords' emergency-assistance principle.

Country Signed Signing context
Nigeria Dec 13, 2022 One of the first two African signers, at the US-Africa Leaders Summit
Rwanda Dec 13, 2022 The other first African signer; signed by its space agency CEO
Bangladesh Apr 8, 2025 Signed by the defence secretary
Philippines Oct 27, 2025 Signed by the Philippine Space Agency's officer-in-charge in Kuala Lumpur
Botswana Jun 25, 2026 Became the 68th signatory
Mauritius Jul 17, 2026 Became the 70th signatory
Djibouti Sep 14, 2026 Signed by its ambassador in Washington
Côte d'Ivoire Sep 24, 2026 Signed by its higher-education and science minister

Lover (7)

These nations join through relationship and alliance, and several now carry the Accords' diplomacy.

Country Signed What they bring
Ukraine Nov 12, 2020 First signer after the eight founders, exactly one month later
Bahrain Mar 2, 2022 Signed by its National Space Science Agency CEO
Colombia May 10, 2022 Signed by the vice president and foreign minister
Peru May 30, 2024 Its agency director co-chairs the 2026 Principals' Meeting; hosts the 2026 workshop
Armenia Jun 12, 2024 Became the 43rd signatory
Jordan Apr 23, 2026 Became the 63rd signatory, at NASA Headquarters
Morocco Apr 29, 2026 Signed in Rabat by the foreign minister; 64th signatory

Innocent (9)

These are microstates and nascent programs signing on principle, with little flight hardware yet. NASA says at least half of all signatories have committed some lunar payload or technology demonstration, so some may graduate.

Country Signed Signing context
Ecuador Jun 21, 2023 Became the 26th signatory; signed by the foreign minister
Angola Nov 30, 2023 Signed in a Washington ceremony
Uruguay Feb 15, 2024 Signed by the foreign minister
Dominican Republic Oct 4, 2024 Became the 44th signatory; signed by its ambassador
Panama Dec 11, 2024 Became the 49th signatory, with Austria
Liechtenstein Dec 20, 2024 Signed by its communications office director
Malta May 4, 2026 Signed the same day as Ireland
Paraguay May 7, 2026 Became the 67th signatory; signed by its space agency head
San Marino Sep 25, 2026 Became the 76th signatory, the latest confirmed

Outlaw (2)

Thailand and Senegal sit in both camps: each has also joined China's International Lunar Research Station.

Country Signed What they bring
Thailand Dec 16, 2024 First nation to join both the Accords and the ILRS; signed by its space-technology agency head
Senegal Jul 24, 2025 Second dual member; signed by its space study agency director

r/FutureWhatIf • • 12h ago

Other FWI: In the future we will have online virtual workspaces or think-tanks or brainstorm places where people will combine and gather and join much like a discord voice call with the sole purpose to not just chat and relax have fun but to build solutions and projects and companies etc

Thumbnail
0 Upvotes

TL;DR discord and Reddit but for making ideas come to life and building a better humanity and society in an easier and more convenient and less stressful fashion essentially exponentially increasing the speed and ease of growth


r/FutureWhatIf • • 7h ago

Political/Financial FWI: Trump announces the America Canal, a great “jobs program” to connect the Great Lakes to the Pacific coast via the Columbia River. “But only if Republicans are elected in 2026!” is the condition.

0 Upvotes

r/FutureWhatIf • • 1d ago

Other FWI: In 2098, the United States is no more

17 Upvotes

By 2098, the United States is no more, reduced to a lawless band of marauders fighting against various new countries that formed in the wake of the USA’s collapse.

How might the rest of the world fare now that the United States effectively no longer exists?


r/FutureWhatIf • • 1d ago

War/Military [FWI] A leaked CIA memo pins the blame for Ukraine's Starshields' degraded link on Russia.

5 Upvotes

https://thehill.com/policy/technology/6148910-musk-clarifies-starshield-restrictions/

Right now, the blame for Starshield's connectivity slowdown is on Trump. But what if Russia did it and the Pentagon needed to spin it so the narrative doesn't come under the Kremlin's control?


r/FutureWhatIf • • 1d ago

Other FWI: Mexico collapses in 2048

4 Upvotes

In 2048, Mexico collapses following years of sociopolitical unrest. How might this affect the rest of the world?


r/FutureWhatIf • • 2d ago

Political/Financial FWI: The next President does a complete UNO Reverse Card (Based on an FWI someone else wrote)

15 Upvotes

In 2028, a Democrat (IDK if it's going to be Kamala Harris, AOC, Mike Kelly, or someone else that might surprise the Dems) wins the US Presidential Election, and they immediately spend their first 100 days undoing EVERYTHING Trump did. Examples include, but aren't limited to:

  • Trump closes the border? The new President reopens it for EVERYONE (They even put SCOTUS judges who interpret the 14th amendment as being applicable to children born to undocumented immigrants once they are born on US soil). They also get blanket immunity from ICE.
  • Trump launched ICE operations? The New President says, "ICE has no power here," and works to abolish it.
  • You want to apply for asylum in the USA? The New President pledges to institute a system that expedites the entire process, effectively creating a way to "Fast-track" someone's path to US citizenship.

What do the years 2029-2032 look like now?


r/FutureWhatIf • • 1d ago

Political/Financial [FWI] Putin meets ROK president Lee Jae Myung at the DMZ after Moscow allowed a South Korean trade vessel to pass through Russian Arctic waters on the way to United Kingdom, being the second Asian country to do so, after China.

2 Upvotes

https://www.reuters.com/world/china/south-korea-completes-arctic-europe-commercial-voyage-eyes-regular-service-2026-10-11/

SEOUL, Oct 11 (Reuters) - A South Korean container ship completed the country's first commercial round trip to Europe via ​the Arctic on Sunday, as authorities bank on ‌the route helping turn the port of Busan into a global maritime hub.

The PanStar Acro docked in the southeastern port 50 days ​after setting sail on August 22. Authorities say the ​Arctic route could cut typical voyage times by ⁠around a third.

More on the North Sea passage.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Sea_Route


r/FutureWhatIf • • 2d ago

War/Military [FWI] MBS orders his forces to fortify Medina and Mecca against Houthi aggression.

3 Upvotes

Hopefully Turkey, Pakistan, and the USA lend a hand.


r/FutureWhatIf • • 2d ago

Challenge [FWI] Ukraine strikes Kaliningrad with Shahed analog drones; what happens next?

2 Upvotes

Russia's Kaliningrad garrison is truly a thorn in the side of Europe.


r/FutureWhatIf • • 2d ago

Political/Financial [FWI] Putin imposes a toll booth scheme over the Bering Strait, similar to Iran's Hormuz levy, as East Asia increases trade with Europe through the Bering chokepoint.

1 Upvotes

Avoiding middle East chokepoints, East Asia exports reach Europe through the melting Arctic.


r/FutureWhatIf • • 2d ago

War/Military [FWI] Trump implies that Chinese spy satellites are actively hunting down MBS by passing on targeting information to the Houthis.

1 Upvotes

US Space Force disables even more Chinese spy satellites.


r/FutureWhatIf • • 2d ago

Political/Financial [FWI] By 2049, the CCP is lead by a woman leader.

2 Upvotes

China may be trying to follow Kim Jong Un's daughter as Supreme Leader of the DPRK.


r/FutureWhatIf • • 2d ago

War/Military [FWI] A superintelligence generated deep fake of a world leader getting assasinated sparks world war 3.

0 Upvotes

What if world war 3 kicks off due to a superintelligence deep fake?


r/FutureWhatIf • • 3d ago

War/Military FWI - the next US President takes office with the Iran War still going, and does a complete UNO reverse?

2 Upvotes

So say in 2 odd years the next POTUS (assuming the democracy makes it two more years ) decides the best way to end the war with Iran is to just stop dropping bombs. Not only that they decide that any Iranian can apply through a neighboring country for asylum in the US. Open borders and let them all in. All 70 million if they want to.

What happens after that?


r/FutureWhatIf • • 3d ago

Science/Space [FWI] Elon modifies Starship with nuclear propulsion powered by Russian uranium extracted from Putin's nuclear arsenal by 2030.

1 Upvotes

In return, the USA does the same, and now the trip to Mars becomes markedly faster.


r/FutureWhatIf • • 3d ago

Science/Space [FWI] Riding on the success of the Megatons to Megawatts Program which ended in 2013, Putin and Trump agree to a reciprocal transformation of nuclear warheads into civilian reactors to power SI and to provide nuclear propulsion.

1 Upvotes

SOURCES (checked October 9, 2026)

[1] White House, Dec. 10, 2013, statement on completion of Megatons to Megawatts:

https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/realitycheck/node/249116

[2] U.S. Energy Information Administration, Sept. 24, 2013:

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=13091

[3] DOE, Apr. 19, 2024, Surplus Plutonium Disposition Program Record of Decision:

https://www.energy.gov/nepa/articles/doeeis-0549-record-decision

[4] DOE, May 14, 2024, law banning Russian uranium imports:

https://www.energy.gov/articles/biden-harris-administration-enacts-law-banning-importation-russian-uranium

[5] Public Law 118–62, Prohibiting Russian Uranium Imports Act:

https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PLAW-118publ62/html/PLAW-118publ62.htm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megatons_to_Megawatts_Program

https://www.npr.org/2013/12/11/250007526/megatons-to-megawatts-russian-warheads-fuel-u-s-power-plants


r/FutureWhatIf • • 4d ago

Death/Assassination [FWI] An ICE agent shoots and kills an NYPD officer in New York City

13 Upvotes

Sometime in the next week, during high-intensity protests in New York City following the shooting of Oscar Belgal, a crowd of protestors attempts to prevent a group of plainclothes ICE agents from performing a raid. NYPD officers quickly and haphazardly attempt to enclose the crowd, preventing them from approaching the agents. In the ensuing confusion, an ICE agent opens fire, shooting and killing an NYPD officer and injuring a protestor. He claims that he mistook the officer's gun as belonging to one of the protestors. A video later shows him standing about ten feet away from the crowd at the time.

How does the NYPD respond to this incident? How does the public respond, and how does this impact New York City's future treatment of ICE activity? How is the incident spun politically?


r/FutureWhatIf • • 5d ago

Health/Biology FWI: There are reports of “rogue African Lions” roaming in Mexico

1 Upvotes

Sometime in December of 2027, an obscure YouTuber publishes a series of videos showing African lions roaming freely in Mexico.

The uploader claims that the African lions were illegally released into the Mexican wilderness after being “rescued” from the illegal pet trade.

Would the guy’s claims be believed, or at the very least investigated?


r/FutureWhatIf • • 6d ago

Death/Assassination FWI: One hour the televised Trump and Hegseth military execution next week, military convoys arrive in most major downtowns, quickly setting up public viewing stations.

6 Upvotes

r/FutureWhatIf • • 6d ago

FWI: Dale Partridge gets murdered (Rewrite of an earlier FWI)

0 Upvotes

September 16, 2027. Dale Patridge, a Christian Nationalist with some really crazy theological views (that even some Christians disagree with), is publicly assassinated.

His death is followed by various liberals on X calling for the death of Christian Nationalists all over the country, calling them a "cancer". Some even go so far as to say, "He got Charlie Kirked!"

Would Dale's murder actually lead to folks in the Democratic Party calling for the deaths of Christian Nationalists nationwide? If not, what would ACTUALLY happen instead?


r/FutureWhatIf • • 6d ago

War/Military [FWI] A North Korean missile is launched towards the International Space Station while a lightening quick autonomous superintelligence maneuvers a Starlink satellite into the path of the anti-satellite ballistic missile to blow it up before reaching the ISS.

0 Upvotes

I just got savvy to the idea of satellites sacrificing themselves in order to defend geostationary orbit.


r/FutureWhatIf • • 7d ago

Other FWI: A vigilante begins sniping drones out of the sky

3 Upvotes

This is a rewrite of an FWI I wrote a long time ago.

Between November of 2026 and August of 2029, a mysterious vigilante begins shooting at and destroying drones wherever they are seen in the USA.

How long do you see the U.S. launching a manhunt for the perp if this were to happen?


r/FutureWhatIf • • 7d ago

War/Military FWI: Trump announces on 10/12/26 that we are not alone. Aliens are real, and a huge ship is confirmed by the military to arrive in early 2027. This becomes the pretext to attempt suspending elections in one month.

4 Upvotes