Peru and Slovakia have recently become signatories to the Artemis Accords, a set of guidelines aimed at promoting responsible space exploration. With these latest additions, the total number of countries endorsing the accords has reached 42.
(Photo : NASA)
Peru and Slovakia Join the Artemis Accords
In ceremonies held at NASA Headquarters on May 30, Peru's foreign minister, Javier González-Olaechea, and Slovakia's minister of education, research, development, and youth, Tomáš Drucker, officially signed the Artemis Accords alongside representatives from NASA and the U.S. State Department.
According to NASA's official statement, Administrator Bill Nelson expressed his satisfaction with Peru's decision to join the Artemis Accords during a ceremony held in Washington. This move aligns Peru with 40 other nations committed to advancing goals for safe and transparent exploration of celestial bodies such as the Moon and Mars.
Javier González-Olaechea, acting on behalf of Peru, affirmed the nation's commitment to the Artemis Accords, emphasizing Peru's desire to collaborate with other member countries, particularly the United States, in exploring space and utilizing its resources sustainably.
"This giant leap forward for our countries is a result of decades of work Peru has done to further its reach in the cosmos. We live in the golden era of space exploration. Together, we will continue to explore the cosmos openly, responsibly, as partners, for all," Nelson said in an official statement.
Similarly, Slovakia formally joined the Artemis Accords during a ceremony hosted by Nelson at the agency's headquarters. Tomáš Drucker, representing Slovakia, signed the Accords, making Slovakia the 42nd nation to join the international community in pledging to explore space peacefully, transparently, and responsibly.
In his remarks, Drucker emphasized Slovakia's view of the Artemis Accords as an opportunity to establish guidelines for the responsible and sustainable exploration of outer space.
In 2020, the United States and seven other nations became the inaugural signatories of the Artemis Accords, marking a significant step toward promoting the constructive utilization of space for the benefit of humanity.
These accords, rooted in foundational treaties like the Outer Space Treaty and complemented by agreements such as the Registration Convention and the Rescue and Return Agreement, embody a set of early principles.
These principles also include the adoption of best practices and norms of responsible conduct, including the transparent dissemination of scientific data, a cause championed by NASA and its partners.
NASA expects that more nations will join the Artemis Accords in the future, bolstering the collective commitment to space exploration and collaboration.
The commitments outlined in the Artemis Accords, coupled with the active endeavors of its signatories to advance the implementation of these principles, play a pivotal role in supporting NASA's Artemis initiative alongside its international partners.
Additionally, they are expected to contribute to the overall success of safe and sustainable exploration activities undertaken by all signatories to the accords, as per NASA.
