India joined as the 27th nation to endorse the Artemis Accords at a function held at the Willard InterContinental Hotel in Washington
What Is Artemis Accords?
- The Artemis Accords is an international agreement spearheaded by NASA, the United States’ space agency.
- The US established the Artemis Accords together with 7 other founding member nations in 2020.
- The founding members of the Artemis Accords are Australia, Canada, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and the US.
- It currently has 27 signatories including India
Features of Artemis Accords
- The Artemis Accords reinforce and implement key obligations in the 1967 Outer Space Treaty.
- These Accords are a non-binding set of principles designed to guide civil space exploration cooperation among nations participating in the agency’s 21st century lunar exploration plans.
- United States in 2017 set the goal of sending the first woman and the next man to the Moon by 2024.
- Governments that sign the Accords become eligible to participate formally in the Artemis Program.
What Is Done Under Artemis Accords?
- The Artemis programme this time plans for permanent settlements on the Moon.
- The project plan includes: a base on the lunar surface, multiple spacecraft to ferry humans and cargo, a small orbiting space station called the ‘Lunar Gateway’ and a constellation of satellites to help with navigation and communication
- The Artemis Accords was created by the U.S to act as a soft-law alternative to the Moon Agreement, which limits resource extraction in celestial bodies.
- If Artemis Programme succeed in permanent settlement in lunar surface, resource extraction will be limited to lunar surface.
- A key provision in the Artemis Accords allows for actors to extract and utilise space resources.
Founding Members and Current Signatories
The Artemis Accords were initially endorsed by 8 founding member nations:
- Australia
- Canada
- Italy
- Japan
- Luxembourg
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom
- United States
India joined as the 27th signatory, expanding the collaboration to include countries from across the globe. Other signatories include nations like Brazil, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, France, Israel, and South Korea, making the Artemis Accords a truly international initiative.
Key Objectives of the Artemis Accords
The Artemis Accords support the Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the Moon by 2024, with an emphasis on establishing permanent lunar settlements. Key goals of the Artemis program under the Accords include:
- Permanent Moon bases: Creating sustainable habitats on the lunar surface.
- Lunar Gateway: A space station in lunar orbit to support missions to the Moon and Mars.
- Lunar Surface Operations: Developing spacecraft for human and cargo transport, as well as a network of satellites for navigation and communication.
In addition, the Artemis Accords emphasize the responsible use of space resources, setting out a legal framework for resource extraction from celestial bodies like the Moon, in alignment with the Outer Space Treaty.
Principles of the Artemis Accords
The Artemis Accords are based on the following key principles to ensure the safety, sustainability, and peace of outer space exploration:
- Peaceful Exploration: All activities under the Artemis program must be for peaceful purposes.
- Transparency: Signatories commit to conducting space activities transparently, fostering trust and cooperation.
- Interoperability: Efforts will be made to ensure compatible systems for improved safety and mission success.
- Emergency Assistance: Nations will assist other countries’ astronauts in distress.
- Space Object Registration: Signatories must adhere to the Registration Convention, ensuring proper documentation of space activities.
- Scientific Data Sharing: Promoting the global sharing of scientific findings and data related to space exploration.
- Preservation of Space Heritage: Preserving the legacy of past space missions and protecting important sites.
- Space Resources: The responsible extraction and utilization of space resources will be guided by international law.
- Deconfliction of Activities: Ensuring safe and coordinated activities in space, avoiding interference between nations.
- Orbital Debris: Committing to responsible disposal and management of space debris to ensure long-term sustainability.
Benefits of the Artemis Accords for India
India’s inclusion in the Artemis Accords brings several benefits for the country’s space program:
India’s Role in the Artemis Program
Under the Artemis Accords, India will be able to participate in the Artemis program, which is one of NASA’s most ambitious space missions. The Artemis program aims to land the first woman and the first person of color on the Moon, with the long-term goal of establishing a permanent human presence on the Moon and preparing for human missions to Mars.
India’s involvement in the Artemis Accords will also strengthen collaboration with NASA, fostering deeper partnerships between ISRO and other space agencies involved in the program. This cooperation includes joint missions, sharing of scientific data, and potential participation in the Lunar Gateway program.
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Artemis Accords FAQs
The Artemis Accords are a set of principles led by NASA to guide international cooperation in lunar exploration, focusing on peaceful, transparent, and sustainable space missions
India joined the Artemis Accords as the 27th nation in October 2024, enhancing its role in global space exploration
As of now, 27 countries have signed the Artemis Accords, including the US, India, Australia, Japan, Canada, and others.
The Artemis program is NASA’s mission to return humans to the Moon by 2024, with plans for permanent lunar bases and missions to Mars
India gains access to global space collaborations, joint lunar missions, and participation in the Lunar Gateway and future space exploration.
