The European country is the 39th international member to sign the Artemis agreements
NASA and Slovenia signed a cooperation agreement for future space efforts, as the European country became the 39th member to sign the Artemis Accords.
This certified Slovenia’s commitment to carrying out safe and sustainable space exploration for the benefit of humanity and took place during a strategic dialogue between the United States and Slovenia in Ljubljana, Slovenia, at the Offices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“NASA welcomes Slovenia to the Artemis Accords,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson.
The partnership between the United States and Slovenia crosses a new frontier. “We live in a golden age of star exploration. That era will be written by nations that explore the cosmos openly, responsibly and in peace,” she commented.
For his part, Matevž Frangež, Secretary of the Ministry of Economy, Tourism and Sports, signed the agreements on behalf of Slovenia, and James O’Brien, Undersecretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, participated as a witness at the signing event.
“Slovenia thus joins the principles, values and norms on the peaceful use of space as a common good of humanity,” said Frangež.
Rebecca Bresnik, deputy general counsel for International and Space Law, served as a senior NASA official at the ceremony, along with her husband, Randy Bresnik, a NASA astronaut of Slovenian descent.
“We are delighted to welcome Slovenia to the Artemis Accords family,” said Ambassador Jamie Harpootlian, U.S. Ambassador to Slovenia.
“We recognize Slovenia as a rising leader in space. We look forward to taking our collaborations with Slovenia in science, technology and innovation to new frontiers,” she added.
In 2020, the United States and seven other countries established the Artemis Accords to establish guidelines for the peaceful exploration and use of outer space.
The Accords reinforce and implement key obligations in the Outer Space Treaty of 1967. They also strengthen the commitment of the United States and signatory nations to the Registration Convention, the Rescue and Return Agreement, as well as best practices that NASA and its partners support, including the public dissemination of scientific data.
