France is the latest country to sign the Artemis Accords, affirming its commitment to sustainable space exploration that follows a common set of principles promoting beneficial use of space for all of humanity.
Philippe Baptiste, president of the Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales (CNES) – the French space agency – signed the document during an event hosted by the Ambassador of France to the United States, Philippe Étienne. The signing took place prior to a CNES 60th anniversary celebration.
“We are so pleased to welcome France as the newest member of the Artemis Accords family,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. “France is one of the United States’ oldest allies and our partnership in space exploration dates back more than half a century. That partnership is strengthened by France’s commitment to ensuring the peaceful and responsible exploration of outer space for generations to come.”
France is the 20th country to sign the Artemis Accords and the fifth European Union country to do so. The Artemis Accords establish a common vision through a practical set of principles to guide space exploration cooperation among nations participating in NASA’s 21st century lunar exploration plans.
“The fact that France is joining the Artemis Accords marks a new step forward for our partnership in space with the United States, which is already of prime importance for both nations, notably in Mars exploration and Earth-observation programmes,” said Baptiste. “For our scientific community and industry, this new framework will enable us to meet new challenges and continue to be a leading world space power.”
NASA, in coordination with the U.S. Department of State, announced the establishment of the Artemis Accords in 2020. The Artemis Accords reinforce and provide for important operational implementation of key obligations in the 1967 Outer Space Treaty. They also reinforce the commitment by the United States and signatory nations to the Registration Convention, the Rescue and Return Agreement, as well as best practices and norms of responsible behavior that NASA and its partners have supported, including the public release of scientific data.
Additional countries will sign the Artemis Accords in the months and years ahead, as the United States continues to work with 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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