Artemis Accords: Origin, Core Principles and Benefits

Context: Senegal will sign the Artemis Accords at NASA Headquarters in Washington.

About Artemis Accords

Meaning & Origin

• Named after Artemis, the Greek goddess of the Moon.
• Launched on October 13, 2020, by NASA and the S. Department of State.
• Aims to unite countries with a shared vision for peaceful civil space exploration.

Legal Foundation

• Builds upon the principles of the Outer Space Treaty of 1967.
• Acts as a non-binding framework for cooperation in space activities.

Signatory Countries

• Initially signed by 8 countries including Canada, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, UAE, UK.
• As of June 23, a total of 26 countries have signed.
• Includes major powers (e.g., USA, UK, Japan, France) and emerging space nations (Colombia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Mexico).

Core Principles of the Artemis Accords

• Peaceful use of outer space.
• Transparency in activities and public sharing of scientific data.
• Interoperability of systems to improve safety and efficiency.
• Emergency assistance to astronauts in distress.
• Preservation of outer space heritage sites (e.g., landing sites).
• Responsible use of space resources within Outer Space Treaty limits.
• Safe disposal of orbital debris to ensure sustainability.

About the Artemis Programme

• Plans include:
  • A permanent lunar base.
  • Spacecraft to carry humans and cargo.
  • An orbiting lunar space station (Gateway).
  • A network of navigation and communication satellites.
• The first crewed Artemis mission to the Moon is expected by 2026.
• NASA aims to land the first woman and the first person of colour on the lunar surface.

India’s Participation & Benefits

• ISRO’s gains:
  • Access to cutting-edge technology and scientific collaborations.
  • Enhanced knowledge-sharing and technology transfer through NASA partnerships.
• Upcoming cooperation includes:
  • A joint mission to the ISS in 2024.
  • Support for India’s Gaganyaan human spaceflight
• Positions India to play a greater role in global space exploration.

About Senegal

• Location: Located in West Africa, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, Mauritania, Mali, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, and surrounds The Gambia.
• Capital: Dakar, a key cultural, economic, and political hub in West Africa.
• Government: Democratic republic with a history of political stability and peaceful transitions of power.

Space Ambitions

• Senegal is a developing country in space science but is showing growing interest in space technology for development.
• Focuses on using space applications for agriculture, disaster management, environmental monitoring, and education.

Significance of Artemis Accord Signing

• Marks Senegal’s first major international step into space collaboration.
• Aligns Senegal with global norms for peaceful and cooperative space exploration.
• Strengthens Africa’s representation in global space governance.

Symbolic Importance

• Reflects NASA’s goal to build a diverse and inclusive space coalition.
• Encourages space diplomacy and science capacity-building in Africa.

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