NASA Says Russia China Could One Day Join Artemis Accords

rki.news | Source: Anadolu Agency
ANTALYA, Türkiye: Russia and China could join the US-led Artemis Accords if they align with its principles, NASA Deputy Administrator Matt Anderson said Wednesday.
Speaking to reporters at the International Astronautical Congress in Antalya, Anderson said the 76 countries that have signed the accords share principles supporting safe, transparent and responsible activities in space.
He said Russia and China do not currently share those principles but could join the accords in the future.
Moscow and Beijing are instead leading the International Lunar Research Station project, which aims to establish a joint research base on the Moon. Anderson said sovereign nations could pursue their own interests while participating in the accords.
He said recent discussions among member countries focused on space debris, including debris on the lunar surface. Anderson stressed the need to prevent the creation of additional space debris.
Regarding weapons in space, Anderson said the Artemis Accords focus on civil space activities, while military matters remain the responsibility of national security institutions.
He said the accords promote peaceful exploration and that nobody wants fighting in space.
Launched in 2020, the Artemis Accords are a nonbinding framework for peaceful exploration of the Moon, Mars and beyond. Türkiye signed the accords in August.