NEWS – Sweden is the newest nation to sign onto NASA’s Artemis Accords for peaceful and responsible exploration

HIGHLIGHTS

• Definition: Non-binding principles for civil space exploration and use.
• Purpose: Ensuring safety and predictability in outer space activities.

Origins and Membership

• Co-Leaders: NASA and the U.S. Department of State.
• Founding Members: Eight nations including the United States, Australia, Canada, etc.
• Current Signatories: 38 nations including India as of April 2024.

Key Principles of Artemis Accords

• Peaceful Uses: Exclusively for peaceful purposes and compliance with international law.
• Transparency: Broad dissemination of national policies and sharing scientific information.
• Interoperability: Development of common standards for space hardware and procedures.
• Emergency Assistance: Commitment to render assistance and comply with rescue agreements.
• Registration of Objects: Mitigating risk through the registration of space objects.
• Release of Scientific Data: Open sharing of scientific data from exploration missions.
• Preserving Space Heritage: Ensuring new activities preserve historical space sites.
• Space Resources: Clarifying that resource extraction doesn’t mean national appropriation.
• Deconfliction of Activities: Adhering to UN guidelines for sustainable space activities.
• Orbital Debris: Limiting harmful debris through responsible mission planning.