Sweden Signs Artemis Accords

Sweden has officially become the 38th country to sign the Artemis Accords, solidifying its commitment to responsible space exploration.

The announcement came on April 16, during a ceremony held at government offices in Stockholm, where Mats Persson, Sweden’s minister for education and research, put pen to paper alongside U.S. Ambassador to Sweden, Erik D. Ramanathan.

"By joining the Artemis Accords, Sweden strengthens its strategic space partnership with the U.S. on space covering areas such as Swedish space research and the space industry, which in turn also strengthens Sweden’s total defense capability," - Mats Persson, Sweden’s Minister for Education and Research

The Artemis Accords, initiated by eight countries including the United States in 2020, serve as a framework outlining best practices for responsible space exploration. This includes adherence to provisions of the 1967 Outer Space Treaty and other international agreements, as well as guidelines for the sustainable use of space resources and the sharing of scientific data.

Sweden's accession to the Accords marks the second European country to join in as many days, following Switzerland's signing on April 15 in a ceremony held at NASA Headquarters. 

With Sweden's addition, 14 out of 22 full members of the European Space Agency and 13 out of 27 members of the European Union have now become signatories to the Accords.

"Our nations have worked together to discover new secrets in our Solar System, and now, we welcome you to a global coalition that is committed to exploring the heavens openly, transparently, responsibly and in peace…The United States and Sweden share the same bedrock principles, and we’re excited to expand these principles to the cosmos." - Bill Nelson,  NASA Administrator 

The rapid expansion of the Artemis Accords reflects a growing international consensus on the importance of establishing clear guidelines for space exploration, ensuring that scientific endeavors beyond Earth's atmosphere are conducted in a manner that promotes cooperation, transparency, and sustainability.