On Thursday, the Republic of Serbia officially signed the Artemis Accords during a ceremony at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. This landmark event positions Serbia as the 69th nation to join a growing coalition of countries dedicated to peaceful and responsible space exploration.
“The collaboration between Serbia and NASA dates back to the Apollo program, where Serbian engineers significantly contributed to some of humanity’s most remarkable space achievements,” stated NASA Deputy Administrator Matt Anderson. “One noteworthy individual, Milojko ‘Mike’ Vucelic, received the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his essential role in safely returning the Apollo 13 crew to Earth. Their contributions remind us that extraordinary accomplishments in space stem from talented individuals united in purpose.”
Throughout the Apollo era, a skilled team of Serbian-American engineers excelled in systems engineering, propulsion, power systems, spacecraft docking, electronics reliability, and mission coordination. Their expertise was vital for critical functions, including lunar landing analysis and spacecraft docking safety.
Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Djuric signed the Artemis Accords on behalf of Serbia.
“From Rome’s ‘per aspera ad astra’ to Norman Vincent Peale’s belief that aiming for the moon can lead us to the stars, humanity has always found inspiration in the great unknown,” Djuric remarked. “Given our nation’s legacy of brilliant minds like Nikola Tesla and Milutin Milanković, along with pioneers like David Vujic—a key contributor to the Apollo program and member of the Serbian Seven—we are committed to pursuing new heights in space exploration. It’s about daring to explore, inspiring one another, and embracing bigger challenges.”
By signing the Artemis Accord, nations unlock future opportunities for lunar exploration in collaboration with NASA. This includes the potential to provide scientific and technological payloads for the U.S.-led moon base and the deployment of cubesats for the upcoming Artemis missions, all aimed at advancing humanity’s return to the moon and ushering in a new era of space innovation.
The signing ceremony was also attended by Dragan Štanovac, the Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia to the United States, and Marija Gniatović, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Science, Technology Development and Innovation of Serbia, along with U.S. State Department Assistant Secretary Wesley Brooks.
In 2020, NASA and the State Department, along with seven other founding nations, established the Artemis Accord to respond to the increasing interest in lunar activities by both government and private sectors. This framework introduced practical principles to enhance safety and cooperation among nations exploring celestial bodies like the Moon and Mars. Participating nations are committed to:
- Explore peacefully and transparently
- Provide aid to those in need
- Facilitate access to scientific data
- Avoid disrupting the activities of others
- Preserve historically significant sites and artifacts through the development of best practices
Five years later, President Donald J. Trump‘s National Space Policy directed NASA to establish a persistent lunar outpost. With this moon base initiative, NASA is actively implementing the principles of the Artemis Accords and extending an invitation for all signatories to participate in this monumental effort.
Looking ahead, more nations are anticipated to sign the Artemis Accords in the upcoming months and years, as NASA endeavors to foster a safe, peaceful, and prosperous future in space.
For more information on the Artemis Accords, please see below.
Source: www.nasa.gov