Vietnam signs Artemis Accords as 78th member nation
NASA says Vietnam became the 78th Artemis Accords signatory, with Minister of Science and Technology Vũ Hải Quân signing at Ha Long event.
The story in focus
NASA reports Vietnam became the 78th nation to sign the Artemis Accords. Minister of Science and Technology Vũ Hải Quân signed for Vietnam during Vietnam International Digital Week in Ha Long, and U.S. Ambassador Jennifer Wicks also took part, per the agency.
- Vietnam is the 78th Artemis Accords signatory, according to NASA.
- Minister of Science and Technology Vũ Hải Quân signed for Vietnam at Vietnam International Digital Week in Ha Long.
- NASA Deputy Administrator Matt Anderson said NASA and the Vietnam National Space Center have cooperated on satellite innovation, land-use research and radar-based Earth observation.
- NASA says Vietnam inaugurated its National Space Center in Hanoi and is developing domestic satellite capabilities through the LOTUSat program.
The signing
Vietnam became the 78th nation to sign the Artemis Accords, NASA announced. Minister of Science and Technology Vũ Hải Quân signed on the country's behalf during Vietnam International Digital Week in Ha Long. U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Jennifer Wicks also participated, the agency said.
In recorded remarks for the ceremony, NASA Deputy Administrator Matt Anderson said Vietnam is joining at an important point in the development of its own space program. He cited momentum between NASA and the Vietnam National Space Center in satellite innovation, land-use research and radar-based Earth observation.
Existing cooperation
NASA said that earlier this year it partnered with Vietnam's Vietnamese-German University to support the Soil Moisture Active Passive mission, which measures surface-soil water worldwide. The agency also said Vietnam inaugurated its National Space Center in Hanoi and is developing domestic satellite capabilities through the LOTUSat program, focused on Earth observation, weather monitoring and disaster response.
NASA and the State Department joined seven other founding nations to establish the accords in 2020, introducing practical principles for lunar activity by governments and private companies.
What signatories commit to
Signing means committing to peaceful and transparent exploration, rendering aid to those in need, enabling access to scientific data, avoiding interference with others' activities and preserving historically significant sites and artifacts through best practices. NASA said more countries are expected to sign in the months and years ahead.
What does signing the Artemis Accords commit a country to?
NASA says signatories commit to peaceful, transparent exploration, aid to those in need, access to scientific data, avoiding interference with others' activities and preserving significant sites and artifacts.
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