On June 7, 2022, France became the twentieth country to sign the Artemis Accords, an international treaty aimed at establishing rules for peaceful and united space exploration.
60 years of Cnes
It was Philippe Baptiste, president of the National Center for Space Studies (Cnes), who signed the document during an event organized by the French ambassador to the United States, Philippe Étienne. Simple coincidence or destiny, the meeting took place on the day of the sixtieth anniversary of Cnes.
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” France’s accession to the Artemis Accords marks a new stage in our space partnership with the United States, which is already of prime importance for both nations, particularly in the Mars exploration and observation programs. Earth. For our scientific community and our industry, this new framework will enable us to meet new challenges and continue to be a leading global space power. “, declared Philippe Baptiste, in a statement from NASA.
For the time being, the Artemis Accords have been signed by twenty countries and, unsurprisingly, Russia and China are not among them.
The signatory countries of the Artemis Accords. Image: NASA
The Artemis Accords are based on 10 principles
This agreement, established in 2020, is an extension of the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, signed by 110 countries, which governs the activities of states concerning the exploration and use of the Moon and other celestial bodies. ” We are very happy to welcome France as a new member of the Artemis Accord family. France is one of the oldest allies of the United States and our partnership in space exploration dates back more than half a century. This partnership is reinforced by France’s commitment to ensure the peaceful and responsible exploration of space for generations to come. “said Bill Nelson, administrator of the American space agency.
The signatory countries are not required to participate in the Artemis program, but they undertake to respect the rules established by them. The agreements aim above all to establish common bases for peaceful and transparent space exploration, and are based on 10 principles:
- peaceful exploration : All activities carried out under the Artemis program must have a peaceful purpose
- Transparency : Signatories to the Artemis Accords will conduct their business transparently to avoid confusion and conflict
- Interoperability : Countries participating in the Artemis program will strive to support interoperable systems to improve safety and sustainability
- emergency assistance : Signatories of the Artemis Accords pledge to provide assistance to personnel in distress
- The recording of space objects : Any nation participating in Artemis must be a signatory to the Registration Convention or become a signatory soon
- Publication of scientific data : Signatories to the Artemis Accords pledge to make scientific information public, enabling the world to come together in the path of Artemis
- Heritage preservation : Signatories of the Artemis Accords pledge to preserve space heritage
- Space resources : The extraction and use of space resources are essential for safe and sustainable exploration and the signatories of the Artemis Accords affirm that these activities must be carried out in accordance with the Outer Space Treaty
- The non-conflict of activities : The signatory countries of the Artemis Accords undertake to prevent harmful interference and to support the principle of respect for human rights, as required by the Outer Space Treaty
- Orbital debris : Artemis Accord signatories commit to planning for safe debris disposal
Preparing for the future of space exploration
The Artemis Accords help strengthen the ties between the different space powers, as humanity prepares to return to the Moon and this time, to stay there. Indeed, the Artemis program plans to bring the human being back to the Moon and to install a permanent base there which will be inhabited by astronauts.
The agreement was also thought for what awaits humanity after this milestone; Mars exploration.