NASA Administrator Bill Nelson welcomed Armenia as the latest nation to sign the Artemis Accords during a ceremony held at NASA Headquarters in Washington, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of State. With this signing, Armenia joins 42 other nations in committing to advance principles for the safe, transparent and responsible exploration of the Moon, Mars and beyond.
«Today’s signing is based on an important foundation. Armenia has looked at the sky for a long time and helped humanity understand it. As the tenth nation to sign the Artemis Accords this year, we are proving that exploration unites nations like few things can. “We will continue to expand humanity’s reach in the cosmos – together,” says Nelson.
Mkhitar Hayrapetyan, Minister of High-Tech Industry of Armenia, signed the Artemis Accords on behalf of his country. Lilit Makunts, ambassador of Armenia to the United States, and Jennifer R. Littlejohn, acting deputy assistant secretary of the Bureau of International Scientific, Environmental and Ocean Affairs of the Department of State, also participated in the event.
«By signing these agreements, Armenia joins a community of nations dedicated to advancing the frontiers of knowledge and human capacity in space,” said Hayrapetyan. “Our participation will not only improve our technological capabilities, but also inspire a new generation of Armenians to dream big, innovate and explore the world and the universe.”
The United States and seven other nations were the first to sign the Artemis Accords in 2020, establishing an initial set of principles that promote the beneficial use of space for humanity. The agreements are based on the Outer Space Treaty and other agreements, including the Registration Convention, the Rescue and Return Agreement, as well as best practices and standards of responsible behavior that NASA and its partners have supported, including public disclosure of scientific data. More countries are expected to sign the Artemis Accords in the coming months and years.
The commitments of the Artemis Accords and the efforts of the signatories to advance the implementation of these principles support NASA’s Artemis campaign with its partners, as well as the success of the safe and sustainable exploration activities of the other signatories of the agreements .
