Artemis Accords

Prelims – Current events of national and international importance.

Mains (GS III) – Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights.

Why in news?

Bangladesh recently became the 54^th nation to sign the Artemis Accords.

• Aim – To provide a non-binding framework of principles to guide peaceful and cooperative civil space exploration, supporting NASA's Artemis Program.

NASA's Artemis Program aims to return humans to the Moon and Mars.

• Established – In 2020 by the United States, led by NASA and the U.S. Department of State and 7 other initial signatory nations.
• Scope – Applies to civil space activities on the Moon, Mars, asteroids, comets, their orbits, Lagrangian points and transit paths.
• Signatories – There are 54 countries including Bangladesh. 
• India – Signed the Accords in 2023 to boost the cooperation between the two nations and explore the domain beyond the boundaries of Earth.

Core Principles of the Accord

• Peaceful Exploration – All activities exclusively for peaceful purposes.
• Transparency – Commitment to sharing space policies, plans, and scientific findings by the nations.
• Implementation – Through memoranda, government agreements and agency arrangements.
• Compatibility – Aligns with the 1967 Outer Space Treaty and other international space law.
• Safety Zones – Provides for establishment of safety zones to prevent harmful interference.
• Space Resources – Affirms the right to extract and utilize space resources sustainably.
• Registration – Requires registration of space objects for identification.
• Interoperability – Promotes compatible systems and standards.
• Space Debris – Commits signatories to debris mitigation planning.
• Emergency Assistance – Provides framework for supporting astronauts in distress.

Significance

• Represents largest international coalition for space exploration governance.
• Creates practical framework for sustainable lunar presence.
• Facilitates international cooperation while respecting sovereignty.
• Positions signatories for future space economy participation.

Reference

NASA | Artemis Accords