NASA Welcomes Media to Djibouti for Historic Signing Ceremony of Artemis Accords

The Republic of Djibouti is set to formally join the Artemis Accords during a ceremony scheduled for 11 a.m. EDT on Monday, 14th September, at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. This significant event will mark Djibouti as the 72nd nation to sign these accords.

NASA’s Deputy Administrator, Matt Anderson, will preside over the ceremony, welcoming the Ambassador of Djibouti to the United States, Mohamed Siad Douale. Also in attendance will be Frank Garcia, the U.S. State Department’s Assistant Secretary for African Affairs.

This ceremony is restricted to in-person attendance only, and members of the media who wish to cover the event are required to RSVP by 8 a.m. on 14th September. Interested parties should contact hq-media@mail.nasa.gov for accreditation, which is governed by NASA’s media policy available online.

Background of the Artemis Accords

The Artemis Accords were established in 2020 under the first Trump Administration, driven by a collaborative effort between NASA and the State Department alongside seven other founding nations. This initiative was a response to the increasing interest from various governments and private enterprises in lunar exploration and activities.

These accords set out a pioneering framework of practical principles designed to improve the safety, transparency, and coordination of civil space exploration, not only on the Moon but also on Mars and beyond. The principles aim to foster international cooperation and responsible behaviour in the burgeoning field of space exploration.

Further Information on the Accords

For those interested in delving deeper into the Artemis Accords and understanding their implications for international space exploration, additional information is available on NASA’s official website. This resource outlines the objectives and principles that guide the collaborative efforts of signatory nations as they embark on this new frontier.

With Djibouti’s signing, the Artemis Accords continue to gain momentum, reinforcing a collective commitment to peaceful and cooperative exploration of outer space.