India and US sign Artemis Accord to take Space cooperation to new heights

Tags: International Relations Science and Technology

During his state visit to the United States, Prime Minister Narendra Modi signed the Artemis agreement with the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), highlighting the growing importance of India's role as a global space power.

An overview of the news

• The agreement establishes the foundation for cooperation in space exploration and underlines India's commitment to peaceful space activities.

Joint Mission to the International Space Station (ISS)

• In addition to the Artemis agreement, NASA and the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) have agreed to launch a joint mission to the International Space Station in 2024.

• This collaborative effort will enable both countries to advance their space research and exploration efforts.

What is the Artemis Agreement?

• The Artemis Agreement outlines principles for international cooperation in space exploration, particularly relating to the use of the Moon, Mars, comets and asteroids for peaceful purposes.

• As non-binding multilateral arrangements, these agreements allow governments, including the United States and other participating nations, to contribute to NASA's Artemis program.

Significance of the Artemis Program

• NASA's Artemis program aims to advance scientific discoveries and expand human exploration of the lunar surface.

• By studying the Moon, researchers hope to make breakthroughs that could lead to advances in various fields such as technology, medicine and our understanding of the universe.

• The program focuses on sending astronauts to Mars and exploring other planets and celestial bodies.

Establishment of the Artemis Accord

• In 2020, NASA established the Artemis Agreement in collaboration with the US State Department.

• These agreements serve as agreements between the United States and the seven other founding member states, reinforcing commitment to international space treaties and agreements.

• These agreements promote best practices, including the transparent sharing of scientific data with the public.

Guiding principle of Accord

• The purpose of the Artemis Agreement is to create a framework for peaceful and cooperative space exploration.

• These principles facilitate progress while ensuring ethical and responsible practices in space.

• Since many countries and private companies are actively engaged in lunar missions and operations, agreements establish shared principles governing civilian exploration and use of outer space.

• Key principles include conducting all activities in space peacefully and with full transparency, sharing research findings, registering space objects, and releasing scientific data.

Nations Participating in the Artemis Accord

• The agreement was signed in October 2020 by the directors of the national space agencies of the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan, Luxembourg, Italy, the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates.

• Ukraine joined the agreement a month later. Subsequently, in 2021 the agreement was extended to South Korea, New Zealand, Brazil, Poland, Isle of Man and Mexico.

• In 2022, Israel, Romania, Bahrain, Singapore, Colombia, France, Saudi Arabia, Rwanda, Nigeria and the Czech Republic also become signatories.

• Spain, Ecuador and now India have also joined it, taking the total number of participating countries to 28.