Romania has become the 16th country to sign the Artemis Accords, affirming its commitment to a common set of principles to guide cooperation among nations participating in 21st century space exploration.
“Now more than ever, it is important that we work together across international boundaries to strengthen partnerships and ensure the use of outer space for peaceful purposes,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. “Having Romania join the Artemis Accords is an important step toward achieving this goal. The U.S. has enjoyed diplomatic relations with Romania for more than 140 years and NASA welcomes the spirit of exploration that Romania can bring to space as we chart this new course together.”
Marius-Ioan Piso, president and CEO of the Romanian Space Agency, signed the document during a ceremony March 1 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bucharest. Nelson participated remotely in the signing ceremony.
“This spirit of collaboration was a main impetus for us to join the Artemis Moon exploration endeavor,” said Piso. “Among the clear benefits that emerge from the participation in this unique program, we see Artemis also as an attractor for the younger generation towards science, discovery, innovation – things that robots still cannot do. It is also a good way to move the focus from conflicts between humans to challenges in discovery, exploration, and defense of our planet.”
Romania joins 15 other countries that have already signed the Artemis Accords, which will guide space exploration cooperation among nations participating in NASA’s 21st century lunar exploration plans.
NASA, in coordination with the U.S. Department of State, announced the establishment of the Artemis Accords in 2020. The Artemis Accords reinforce and implement the 1967 Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, Including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies, otherwise known as the Outer Space Treaty. They also reinforce the commitment by the United States and partner nations to the Registration Convention, the Agreement on the Rescue of Astronauts, and other norms of behavior that NASA and its partners have supported, including the public release of scientific data.
Additional countries will join the Artemis Accords in the months and years ahead, as NASA continues to work with its international partners to establish a safe, peaceful, and prosperous future in space. Working with both new and existing partners will add new energy and capabilities to ensure the entire world can benefit from our journey of exploration and discovery.
Learn more about the Artemis Accords at:
https://www.nasa.gov/artemis-accords
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