Slovakia Signs Artemis Accords

Washington, D.C. — Slovakia has become the 42nd nation to sign the Artemis Accords, marking its commitment to the peaceful, transparent, and responsible exploration of space. The signing ceremony was hosted by NASA Administrator Bill Nelson at the agency’s headquarters in Washington on Thursday.

“NASA welcomes Slovakia as the newest signatory of the Artemis Accords...The United States and Slovakia share a deep understanding of the power of exploration. Through this new chapter in our nations’ partnership, we will further this global coalition to explore the cosmos openly, responsibly, in peace.” - Bill Nelson, NASA Administrator

Tomáš Drucker, Slovakia's Minister of Education, Research, Development, and Youth, signed the Accords on behalf of his country. The ceremony also saw the participation of Sonata Coulter, deputy assistant secretary for the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs at the U.S. State Department, and Radovan Javorcik, the Slovak Republic’s ambassador to the United States.

“Slovakia perceives the Artemis Accords as a great opportunity for this generation to positively define guidelines and principles for the responsible and sustainable exploration and use of outer space,” - Tomáš Drucker, Slovakia's Minister of Education, Research, Development, and Youth

The Artemis Accords, initiated in 2020 by the United States and seven other nations, outline a set of principles aimed at promoting the beneficial use of space for all humanity. They are grounded in the Outer Space Treaty and other agreements such as the Registration Convention and the Rescue and Return Agreement. These accords emphasize best practices and norms of responsible behavior that NASA and its international partners support, including the public release of scientific data.

Slovakia’s signing follows Peru, which became the 41st country to join the Artemis Accords earlier the same day. The growing list of signatories reflects a broad international commitment to the principles of peaceful and cooperative space exploration.

In May, several signatories of the Artemis Accords convened for a workshop to discuss the implementation of these principles. The commitments made under the Artemis Accords are designed to support NASA’s Artemis campaign and ensure the safe and sustainable exploration activities of all participating nations.

The Artemis Accords represent a significant step in fostering international cooperation in space exploration. By joining these accords, Slovakia not only aligns itself with a global initiative for the responsible use of outer space but also strengthens its partnership with other nations dedicated to exploring the cosmos for the benefit of all humanity.