spacetoday.net: NASA unveils Artemis Accords for cooperation in lunar exploration

Posted: Sun, May 24, 2020, 10:50 AM ET (1450 GMT)
NASA will ask countries seeking to cooperate on the Artemis program to follow a series of principles for safe behavior in space. NASA unveiled the "Artemis Accords" May 15, which cover principles such as affirming exploration for peaceful purposes, protecting Apollo and other landing sites on the moon, and establishing "safety zones" around sites where NASA or partners are conducting activities. Agency officials said the accords are intended to implement obligations from the Outer Space Treaty and other space treaties, as well as codify norms of behavior. NASA will execute the accords through a series of bilateral agreements with countries that want to cooperate on any aspect of the Artemis program other than the lunar Gateway, which will be governed by an extension of the intergovernmental agreement used for the International Space Station.