The Republic of Mauritius has officially joined the Global Alliance for Responsible Space Exploration, becoming the latest signatory of the Artemis Accords and the seventh African nation to do so. NASA Deputy Administrator Matt Anderson provided video remarks during the signing ceremony held in the island city of Ebeine on Friday.
“We are thrilled to welcome Mauritius into the Artemis Accords community, and we are eager to collaborate in the coming years,” Anderson stated. “Together, we are establishing a robust foundation for future exploration, ensuring that space remains peaceful, accessible, and beneficial for all. America aims to return to the moon and herald a new golden age of exploration. Achieving this will require capable partners and a shared commitment to responsible exploration.”
Navinsingh Jugumohunsingh, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Research of Mauritius, signed the Artemis Accord on behalf of the nation, accompanied by Sarah Trautman, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, and Craig Halbmeyer, Chargé d’Affaires to Mauritius.
“Mauritius’ signing of the Artemis Accords marks a significant step in our space journey,” said Jugumohunsingh. “As a small island developing state in the Indian Ocean, we are dedicated to ensuring that space benefits humanity, particularly for protecting our oceans and coastlines and amplifying the voices of countries like ours. Mauritius is prepared to contribute to shaping the future of space governance while creating new opportunities for innovation and collaboration.”
NASA’s partnership with Mauritius dates back to early global mapping initiatives due to its strategic location. From 1965 to 1980, NASA conducted several satellite missions to gather global measurements of Earth’s size and shape. As part of these efforts, teams visited Mauritius and other international tracking stations to support satellite photography for geodetic analysis. These observations enhanced the navigation techniques utilized from Apollo to Artemis and solidified the partnership reaffirmed today through the Artemis Accords.
In 2020, NASA and the State Department collaborated with seven founding nations to establish the Artemis Accord in response to the increasing interest in lunar activities from both government and private sectors. They introduced a set of practical principles aimed at enhancing safety and promoting cooperation among like-minded countries in exploring the Moon, Mars, and beyond. The commitments include:
- Exploring peacefully and transparently
- Providing aid to those in need
- Enabling access to scientific data
- Avoiding interference with others’ activities
- Preserving historically significant sites and artifacts through best practices
Five years later, President Donald J. Trump’s National Space Policy directed NASA to establish a sustainable lunar outpost. With this lunar base, NASA is applying the principles of the Artemis Accords and inviting all signatories, including Mauritius, to contribute to this collaborative effort.
Anticipation grows for more countries to sign the Artemis Accords in the coming months and years as NASA strives to foster a safe, peaceful, and prosperous future in space.
For additional information on the Artemis Accords, please see below.
Source: www.nasa.gov