India will sign Artemis Accords; NASA-ISRO will conduct joint mission
India has decided to sign the Artemis Accords, the White House announced on Thursday. It is the first major agreement the two nations reached during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's three-day visit to the US. The Artemis Accords is a non-binding multilateral arrangement that lays down the principles, guidelines, and best practices for the safe exploration of space.
Why does this story matter?
India was the only major ally of the US to stay away from the Artemis Accords. NASA has been keen on India's participation in the Accords for a while. Therefore, India's decision to join the Accords is a huge win for the US. However, it needs to be seen how this will affect India's relationship with Russia in space-related activities.
ISRO and NASA agreed to a joint ISS mission
"On space, we will be able to announce that India is signing the Artemis Accords, which advance a common vision for space exploration for the benefit of all humankind," a senior US administration official said. The White House added that NASA and ISRO have agreed to conduct a joint mission to the International Space Station (ISS) in 2024.
Artemis Accords are grounded in the Outer Space Treaty
The Artemis Accords are grounded in the Outer Space Treaty of 1967, the Rescue and Return Agreement of 1968, the 1972 Liability Convention, and the 1975 Registration Convention. The Accords were established in 2020. At the time, there were eight signatories. Presently, 25 countries are part of the Accords. India will be the 26th nation to join the Accords.
What do Artemis Accords cover?
The Artemis Accords were drafted by NASA and the US Department of State with a focus on civil space exploration. The activities covered under the Accords may occur on the Moon, Mars, comets, and asteroids, including their surfaces and subsurfaces. The framework also covers the orbit of the Moon or Mars, the Lagrangian points for the Earth-Moon system, and transit between these celestial bodies.
How will the Artemis Accords help India?
Being part of the Artemis Accords gives India a unique opportunity to understand the advanced technologies of other signatories. This includes robotics from Canada and deep space expertise from the US and Australia. The Accords will help with India's future lunar and human missions too. They will also provide Indian space companies an opportunity to become a part of the global supply chain.
