On Wednesday, Lithuania became the 40th country to join NASA and other nations in signing the Artemis Accords, a significant step towards safer space exploration. The ceremony, held at the Radisson Blu Lietuva hotel in Vilnius, Lithuania, emphasized transparency and peace as more countries venture into space.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson welcomed Lithuania to the Artemis Accords family, highlighting the strong partnership between nations and their expansion into space exploration. The Accords, signed by Lithuanian Minister of Economy and Innovation Aušrinė Armonaitė, signify a commitment to exploring the stars openly, responsibly, and peacefully.
United States Ambassador Kara C. McDonald represented the U.S. at the ceremony, emphasizing the importance of the Artemis Accords in shaping the future of space exploration. Armonaitė expressed Lithuania’s dedication to responsible and sustainable space exploration, noting the country’s growing space sector.
NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy stressed the significance of the day for Lithuania, emphasizing that space exploration is now a collaborative effort among nations. The Artemis Accords, aligned with NASA’s Artemis campaign, aim to send astronauts to the Moon for scientific discovery and economic benefits, with the goal of laying the foundation for crewed missions to Mars.
Established in 2020 by NASA, the Department of State, and seven other nations, the Artemis Accords are based on principles from space treaties dating back to 1967. With 40 nations now committed to the Accords, the international community aims to ensure a peaceful and long-term presence in deep space exploration for the benefit of humanity.
