Peru Signs Artemis Accords

Washington, D.C. — In a historic ceremony at NASA Headquarters in Washington on Thursday, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson welcomed Peru as the newest nation to sign the Artemis Accords. This significant event, conducted in partnership with the U.S. State Department, marks Peru as the 41st country to commit to the principles of safe, transparent, and responsible exploration of the Moon, Mars, and beyond.

“NASA is proud to welcome Peru to the Artemis Accords family...This giant leap forward for our countries is a result of decades of work Peru has done to further its reach in the cosmos. We live in the golden era of space exploration. Together, we will continue to explore the cosmos openly, responsibly, as partners, for all.” - Bill Nelson, NASA Administrator

The signing ceremony featured notable figures including Javier González-Olaechea, Peru's foreign minister, who signed the Artemis Accords on behalf of Peru. He was accompanied by Alfredo Ferrero Diez Canseco, the ambassador of Peru to the U.S., and Jennifer R. Littlejohn, the acting assistant secretary of the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs at the Department of State.

“Peru, by joining the Artemis Accords, seeks not only to express a common vision with the other member countries but also to establish cooperation mechanisms with these countries, especially with the United States, to participate in activities of exploration and sustainable use of resources found in space, as well as to promote aerospace scientific development in our country,” - Javier González-Olaechea, Peru's Foreign Minister,

The Artemis Accords were initially signed by the United States and seven other nations in 2020. They outline a framework of principles aimed at the peaceful and cooperative use of space. These principles are anchored in the Outer Space Treaty and other international agreements, such as the Registration Convention and the Rescue and Return Agreement, as well as established best practices for responsible behavior in space. An important aspect of the accords is the commitment to the public release of scientific data, promoting transparency and collaboration.

As more countries join the Artemis Accords, the global commitment to cooperative space exploration continues to strengthen. The participation of signatories supports NASA's Artemis campaign, which aims to return humans to the Moon and eventually to Mars, fostering a new era of sustainable space exploration.

The inclusion of Peru in the Artemis Accords is expected to enhance its aerospace capabilities and scientific development, providing new opportunities for collaboration with other space-faring nations. As the accords gain more signatories in the coming months and years, the vision of a united and responsible approach to exploring the final frontier becomes increasingly tangible.