WASHINGTON – Jordan is the latest country to sign the Artemis Agreement as NASA works to attract more countries to its lunar exploration efforts.
At a ceremony at NASA Headquarters on April 23, Jordan’s Ambassador to the United States Dina Kawar signed the agreement on behalf of the country. Jordan is the 63rd country to sign the agreement and the second country to do so this week, after Latvia signed on April 20.
He said the signing of the agreement is part of Jordan’s efforts to transform itself into “a regional and global hub” in science and technology. “This is an amazing day for us, and the beginning of a wonderful collaboration.”
Mike Gould, president of Redwire Space and former NASA associate administrator who helped develop the agreement, told SpaceNews, “Space exploration represents the ultimate expression of optimism for the future.” “While the Middle East has faced a difficult period, the signing of the Artemis Agreement by Jordan shows that the spirit of exploration and optimism in the Hashemite Kingdom and the region generally has not diminished.”
The agreements, unveiled in 2020, outline best practices for safe and sustainable space exploration, building on the Outer Space Treaty and other agreements, from interoperability to decriminalizing space activities. NASA is increasingly using the agreement as a way to coordinate cooperation across broader Artemis exploration efforts, particularly with the lunar base program the agency announced in March.
“NASA’s pivot to the Moon and increasing surface missions to one per month will create unique opportunities for Jordan and many other countries to develop and contribute payloads, instruments and science that can travel to the Moon,” Gold said. “With NASA’s renewed focus on Artemis Agreement signatories who become part of the Artemis program, the entire world will be able to join in on this unique journey of discovery.”
At the event, neither the ambassador nor US officials discussed the specific contribution Jordan could make to Artemis. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said the country has flown student-built CubeSats and conducted analog missions to Mars-like terrain in the country.
“Jordan is growing rapidly and building a strong reputation in the greater space community,” he said at the signing ceremony. “They joined at a critical moment when we take the principles of the agreement and put them into practice with humanity’s return to the Moon.”
Officials at the event said they were working to get more countries to sign the agreement. “There is no time to lose. We must build on these accomplishments, and I know Administrator Isaacman is doing just that,” said Ruth Perry, Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs at the U.S. Department of State. “This is only the beginning as we expand the agreement and unlock the potential of outer space.”
