Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: IE
Context: Sweden joined the Artemis Accords, becoming the 38th country to do so. These non-binding arrangements aim to establish norms for outer space activities.
About the Artemis Accords:
The Artemis Accords are non-binding principles based on the Outer Space Treaty (OST) of 1967, aiming to guide civil space exploration in the 21st century.
- They are a US-led international partnership(introduced in 2020 by NASA) – signed by 38 countries till now, including India (signed in 2023), Japan, Australia, the UK, France, and Canada – on planetary exploration and research.
- They are a set of 13 principles, closely linked to the 2018 US Artemis Program, which aims to return astronauts to the lunar surface, build a space camp there, and carry out deep space exploration.
Other Such treaties on Outer Space:
- Outer Space Treaty (1967): Provides the basic framework for international space law. India has signed and ratified it
- Rescue Agreement (1968): Aimed at rescuing and assisting astronauts in distress. India has signed and ratified it
- Liability Convention (1972): States that the launching State is absolutely liable to pay compensation for damage caused by its space objects. India has signed and ratified it
- Registration Convention (1976): Requires registration of objects launched into outer space. India has signed and ratified it
- Moon Agreement (1979): Establishes the Moon and its resources as the common heritage of humankind. India has signed but NOT ratified it
