Context:
Sweden became 38th country to join Artemis Accords.
Artemis Accords:
- A non-binding set of principles designed to guide civil space exploration and use in the 21st century.
- Initially announced by – NASA and the US Department of State in 2020 together with 7 other founding member nations (Australia, Canada, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom)
- Grounded in Outer Space Treaty (OST) of 1967.
- It represents multilateral leadership in civil space diplomacy and brings together a diverse set of nations with a shared vision of peaceful space cooperation.
- Signatories – 38 (including India)
Commitment of Signatories under the Accords:
- Broad dissemination of national space policies and scientific information resulting from their activities.
- Recognize development of interoperable and common exploration infrastructure and standards such as communication systems, landing structures, etc.
- Implement MoUs between governments or agencies as per the Outer Space Treaty 1967.
- Preserve outer space heritage, including historic landing sites and evidence of activity on celestial bodies.
- Mitigate orbital debris and induce safe and timely disposal of spacecraft at the end of missions.
International Treaties Governing Outer Space:
- Outer Space Treaty (1967): Provides basic framework for international space law. Rescue Agreement (1968): To rescue and assist astronauts in distress.
- Liability Convention (1972): Provides that launching State shall be absolutely liable to pay compensation for damage caused by its space objects on the surface of the Earth or to aircraft.
- Registration Convention (1976): Registration of objects launched into outer space.
- Moon Agreement (1979): Provides that the Moon and its natural resources are the common heritage of humankind.
India has ratified all these treaties, except the Moon Agreement of 1979. India, however, is a signatory to Moon Agreement.
Source: Indian Express
Previous Year Question
What is the purpose of the US Space Agency’s Themis Mission, which was recently in the news?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2008 Prelims]
(a) To study the possibility of life on Mars
(b) To study the satellites of Saturn
(c) To study the colourful display of high latitude skies
(d) To build a space laboratory to study the stellar explosions
Answer: (c)
