President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço of Angola has officially signed the Artemis Accord on behalf of his nation, solidifying Angola’s commitment to deep space exploration and international collaboration. This step marks Angola as the third African country and the 33rd nation globally to endorse this agreement, following in the footsteps of Nigeria and Rwanda, who signed the accord in December 2022.
The Artemis Accords serve as a guiding framework, rooted in the principles of the Outer Space Treaty of 1967, aiming to establish a secure and transparent environment that fosters exploration, scientific pursuits, and commercial activities for the collective benefit of humanity. By joining this agreement, Angola aims to contribute to the shared vision of promoting peaceful and responsible exploration beyond Earth.
Furthermore, “the Accord aligns with NASA’s ambitious Artemis programme, which aims to achieve significant milestones such as landing the first woman and the first person of colour on the Moon. The programme’s objectives encompass groundbreaking scientific discoveries, extensive lunar surface exploration, and crucial preparations for the first human mission to Mars. While NASA spearheads the Artemis initiative, collaborative efforts between nations will play a pivotal role in ensuring a sustainable and robust presence on the Moon. Thus, the Artemis Accords guide international partnerships in missions and operations around the Moon. These accords establish a standard set of principles to govern outer space’s civil exploration and utilisation. In collaboration with the U.S. Department of State, NASA initiated the Artemis Accords in 2020, emphasising commitments to the Registration Convention and the Rescue and Return Agreement and endorsing responsible practices and norms, including the transparent release of scientific data.”
President Gonçalves Lourenço formalised Angola’s commitment to this pivotal agreement during his visit to President Joseph R. Biden at the White House on November 30, 2023. This visit aimed to fortify bilateral relations, identify prospective areas for cooperation, and engage in discussions concerning regional and global challenges.
Angola’s endorsement of the Artemis Accord symbolises its dedication to the peaceful exploration and utilisation of outer space, fostering collaboration among nations and private entities to advance scientific knowledge and humanity’s collective progress.
Credit: Space in Africa
