NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, left, and U.S. Department of State Acting Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs Jennifer R. Littlejohn, right, look on as Ambassador of the Republic of Austria to the United States of America Petra Schneebauer, signs the Artemis Accords.
NASA welcomed onboard the Artemis Accords two new nations today, bringing the total to 50 signatories of a set of principles promoting the beneficial use of space for humanity.
Panama and Austria signed the Artemis Accords during separate signing ceremonies at NASA Headquarters in Washington, becoming the 49th and 50th nations to sign on the dotted line.
In 2020, the United States, led by NASA with the U.S. Department of State, and seven other initial signatory nations established the Artemis Accords.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, left, Ambassador of the Republic of Panama to the United States of America José Miguel Alemán Healy, center, and U.S. Department of State Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs Tony Fernandes.
As noted by NASA, “the Artemis Accords are grounded in the Outer Space Treaty and other agreements including the Registration Convention, the Rescue and Return Agreement, as well as best practices and norms of responsible behavior that NASA and its partners have supported, including the public release of scientific data.”
The Artemis Accords are a voluntary commitment to engage in safe, transparent, responsible behavior in space, “and any nation that wants to commit to those values is welcome to sign,” adds NASA.