New Signatory Joins Artemis Accords for Space Exploration
Greece has officially become the 35th country to join the Artemis Accords, a set of guiding principles for space exploration led by the United States. This significant milestone was marked by Greece’s Foreign Minister, Giorgos Gerapetritis, signing the Accords on behalf of his country during a meeting at the U.S. State Department on February 9.
In a statement released by NASA, Administrator Bill Nelson congratulated Greece on joining the Artemis Accords family. He emphasized the longstanding partnership between the U.S. and Greece and expressed excitement about expanding cooperation in space for the benefit of future generations.
The Artemis Accords outline principles for peaceful and responsible space exploration, particularly guiding NASA’s lunar Artemis program. Gerapetritis highlighted the importance of collaboration and cooperation among nations as humanity embarks on a new era of space exploration beyond the moon.
Established in 2020, the Artemis Accords were initially signed by the United States and seven other countries. The initiative has since grown to include signatories from six continents around the world, with only Antarctica remaining unrepresented due to its lack of government.
While the Artemis Accords focus on sustainable and peaceful exploration of space, there is a competing effort led by China known as the International Lunar Research Station Cooperation Organization (ILRSCO). Several countries have joined this initiative to coordinate the establishment of the International Lunar Research Station in the 2030s.
Building upon the principles of the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, the Artemis Accords promote best practices such as the public release of scientific data. Major signatories include countries like Canada, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Spain, and the United Kingdom.
As global space exploration efforts continue to evolve, partnerships and collaborations like the Artemis Accords play a crucial role in shaping the future of space exploration for the benefit of all nations involved.