Artemis Accords

The Artemis Accords are a non-binding set of principles for outer space exploration and development, established through a series of bilateral agreements between the United States and partner nations. The Accords are related to the Artemis program, an American-led effort to return humans to the Moon in 2028, with the ultimate goal of expanding space exploration to Mars and beyond. As of September 23, 2026, with the accession of Croatia, 74 countries have signed the Accords, including 34 in Europe, 17 in Asia, 8 in South America, 5 in North America, 8 in Africa, and 2 in Oceania. Drafted by NASA and the US Department of State, the Accords establish a framework for cooperation in the civil exploration and peaceful use of the Moon, Mars, and other astronomical objects. The broader legal status of space mining remains unclear. Proponents argue the Accords oblige signatories to uphold the United Nations Outer Space Treaty of 1967, and that they cite most major UN-brokered conventions constituting space law. Critics have argued the Accords violate the Outer Space Treaty's prohibition of national appropriation of outer space by allowing signatories to claim resources extracted from the Moon, asteroids, and other bodies, that this favors US and commercial mining interests, and that they subvert the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs. The Accords were originally signed on October 13, 2020, by representatives of the national space agencies of eight countries: Australia, Canada, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The Accords remain open for signature indefinitely, as NASA anticipates more nations joining. Additional signatories can choose to directly participate in Artemis program activities, or may agree simply to commit to the principles for responsible exploration of the Moon as set out in the Accords.