The Signatories to these Accords;
RECOGNIZING their mutual interest in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes, and UNDERSCORING the continuing importance of existing bilateral space cooperation agreements;
NOTING the benefit for all humankind to be gained from cooperating in the peaceful use of outer space;
USHERING in a new era of exploration, more than 50 years after the historic Apollo 11 Moon landing and more than 20 years after the establishment of a continuous human presence aboard the International Space Station;
SHARING a common spirit and the ambition that the next steps of humanity’s journey in space inspire current and future generations to explore the Moon, Mars, and beyond;
BUILDING upon the legacy of the Apollo program, which benefited all of humankind, the Artemis program will land the first woman and next man on the surface of the Moon and establish, together with international and commercial partners, the sustainable human exploration of the solar system;
CONSIDERING the necessity of greater coordination and cooperation between and among established and emerging actors in space;
RECOGNIZING the global benefits of space exploration and commerce;
ACKNOWLEDGING a collective interest in preserving outer space heritage;
AFFIRMING the importance of compliance with the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, Including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies, opened for signature on January 27, 1967 (“Outer Space Treaty”) as well as the Agreement on the Rescue of Astronauts, the Return of Astronauts and the Return of Objects Launched into Outer Space, opened for signature on April 22, 1968 (“Rescue and Return Agreement”), the Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects, opened for signature on March 29, 1972 (“Liability Convention”), and the Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space, opened for signature on January 14, 1975 (“Registration Convention”); as well as the benefits of coordination via multilateral forums, such as the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (“COPUOS”), to further efforts toward a global consensus on critical issues regarding space exploration and use; and
DESIRING to implement the provisions of the Outer Space Treaty and other relevant international instruments and thereby establish a political understanding regarding mutually beneficial practices for the future exploration and use of outer space, with a focus on activities conducted in support of the Artemis Program;
COMMIT to the following principles:
1
