Dec. 11 (UPI) — Officials for Panama and Austria signed the Artemis Accords on Wednesday, becoming the 49th and 50th nations to join the international commitment to responsible space exploration.
Ambassadors for each nation signed the Artemis Accords at NASA headquarters in Washington, D.C., with NASA Administrator Bill Nelson accompanying them.
“NASA welcomes Panama to the Artemis Accords community and celebrate 50 countries united by shared principles for safe and responsible exploration of space,” Nelson said Wednesday in a news release.
“More than ever before, NASA is opening space to more nations and more people for the benefit of all,” Nelson said. “Together, we are building long-term and peaceful deep space exploration for the Artemis Generation.”
NASA and the U.S. Department of State created the Artemis Accords in 2020. The United States was among the first eight nations to sign them and agree to responsible space exploration and the public release of scientific data.
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 on Wednesday. Photo by NASA/Joel Kowsky
The accords have drawn more international support and participation each year, including 17 new signers in 2024.
“Austria is proud to sign the Artemis Accords, an important step in fostering international cooperation for the civil exploration of the moon and expanding humanity’s presence in the cosmos,” said Petra Schneebauer, Austria’s ambassador to the United States.
Signing the accords affirms Austria’s “commitment to the peaceful, responsible and cooperative use of space while emphasizing our support for strong multilateral partnerships and scientific progress,” Schneebauer said.
Austria officially became the 50th nation to sign the accords.
Earlier Wednesday, Jose Miquel Aleman Healy, Panama’s ambassador to the United States, also signed the accords on behalf of Panama.
“Panama takes its place among many other nations looking not just to our own horizons but to the horizons beyond our planet — exploring, learning and contributing to humanity’s collective knowledge,” Aleman said.
“This moment represents far more than a diplomatic signature,” Aleman added. “It is a bold commitment to peaceful exploration, scientific discovery and international collaboration.”
The Artemis Accords’ 50 member states represent every region in the world and establish a standardized method of operation for their respective space programs.
The accords also are a voluntary commitment to engage in safe, transparent and responsible behavior in space, according to NASA.
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Publish date : 2024-12-11 13:09:00
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