NASA Administrator Bill Nelson hailed Armenia as the newest nation to sign the Artemis Agreement on Wednesday during a ceremony with the US State Department at NASA headquarters in Washington. Armenia joins 42 other countries in a commitment to advance principles for safe, transparent and responsible exploration of the Moon, Mars and beyond.
“NASA is proud to welcome Armenia to the Artemis Agreement as we expand peaceful space exploration,” said Nelson. “Today’s signing builds on an important foundation. Armenia has long been looking at the heavens and helping humanity to understand them. As the 10th nation to sign the Artemis Agreement this year, we are witnessing that exploration brings nations together like few other things can. We will continue to expand humanity’s reach into the cosmos – together.”
Mkhitar Hayrapetyan, Minister of High Technology Industry, signed the Artemis Agreement on behalf of Armenia. Lilit Makunts, Ambassador of Armenia to the US, and Jennifer R. Littlejohn, Acting Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, Department of State, also attended the event.
“By signing these agreements, Armenia joins a community of nations committed to advancing the frontiers of human knowledge and capabilities in space,” Hayrapetyan said. “Our involvement will not only enhance 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 countries were the first to sign the Artemis Agreement in 2020, which identified an early set of principles promoting the beneficial use of space for humanity. The agreements are based on the Outer Space Treaty and other agreements, including the Registration Convention, the Salvage and Return Agreement, and the best practices and norms of responsible behavior that NASA and its partners have supported, including public publication of scientific data. More countries are expected to sign the Artemis Agreement in the coming months and years.
The commitments of the Artemis Agreement and the efforts of 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 research activities of other agreement signatories.
For more information about the Artemis Agreement, visit:
https://www.nasa.gov/artemis-accords/
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Faith McKie / Jennifer Dooren
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1600
faith.d.mckie@nasa.gov / jennifer.m.dooren@nasa.gov
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Image Source : www.nasa.gov