Senegal became the 56th country to join the Artemis Accords. The signing ceremony took place on July 24 at NASA headquarters in Washington.
The Artemis Accords are a series of bilateral agreements between the US government and other countries based on the 1967 Outer Space Treaty. They define the basic principles of cooperation that should be followed in outer space and on various bodies of the Solar System. The agreements cover a wide range of issues, from the exchange of scientific data to the use of space resources and coordination of activities.
Initially, eight countries signed the Artemis Accords (that was in 2020). Since then, their number has been steadily increasing. Following Senegal’s joining, the American “lunar coalition” now consists of 56 states. Their list includes the United States, Canada, Australia, Brazil, Argentina, India, Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Armenia, and almost all European countries, including Ukraine.
On behalf of Senegal, the Artemis Accords were signed by Maram Kairé, Director General of the Senegalese Space Agency. The event was also attended by Jonathan Pratt, Senior Officer in the Bureau of African Affairs at the US Department of State, and Abdoul Wahab Haidara, Ambassador of Senegal to the United States.
“Senegal’s joining the Artemis Accords reflects our commitment to a multilateral, responsible, and transparent approach to space,” said Kairé. “This signature marks a significant step in our space diplomacy and in our efforts to contribute to the peaceful exploration of outer space.”
It is expected that other countries will join the Artemis Accords in the coming months and years as NASA continues its work to create a safe, peaceful, and prosperous future in space.
Interestingly, Senegal is also a participant in the Agreement on Participation in the Project for the Construction of the International Lunar Research Station. It is often referred to as the Chinese alternative to the Artemis Accords. However, China’s success in creating its lunar coalition has been significantly more modest so far. So far, 13 countries have joined it. Besides China and Senegal, these are Russia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Egypt, Nicaragua, Serbia, Pakistan, South Africa, Thailand, Venezuela, and Kazakhstan.
According to NASA
