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Switzerland Joins NASA’s Artemis Accords for Moon Exploration
Swiss Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin recently made history by signing the Artemis Accords for moon exploration at NASA headquarters in Washington, D.C. on Monday, April 15. This marked Switzerland as the 37th country to join this international partnership focused on exploring the unknown openly and peacefully.
During the ceremony, NASA administrator Bill Nelson expressed excitement about the new partnership, highlighting the mutual commitment between the United States and Switzerland. Parmelin also emphasized Switzerland’s longstanding collaboration with NASA in the fields of human space exploration, space sciences, and Earth sciences.
The Artemis Accords establish principles for peaceful and responsible space exploration, particularly guiding NASA’s ambitious lunar Artemis program. The program aims to send humans back to the moon and establish a permanent presence on its surface. Following the successful launch of Artemis 1, an uncrewed mission in November 2022, NASA is planning for Artemis 2 and Artemis 3 missions in 2025 and 2026, respectively. These missions will involve crewed orbits around the moon before landing on its surface.
Originally established in 2020 with seven other nations, the Artemis Accords align with the guidelines outlined in the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, which govern international cooperation and coordination in outer space. By expanding its signatories, NASA is reinforcing the importance of collaboration and responsible exploration beyond Earth’s atmosphere.
Switzerland’s addition to the Artemis Accords exemplifies the growing international support and contribution to humanity’s exploration of space, showcasing the power of partnerships in advancing scientific knowledge and technological capabilities. As countries unite under these accords, the future of space exploration appears brighter and more collaborative than ever before.
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