Principles for cooperation
The ten principles
The Accords turn the Outer Space Treaty's obligations into practical commitments. Sections 3 through 12 of the signed text set out ten principles, which every one of the 76 signatories has accepted.
03
Section 3
Peaceful purposes
Every activity carried out under the Accords must be peaceful and consistent with international law, including the 1967 Outer Space Treaty.
04
Section 4
Transparency
Signatories commit to publicly describe their national space policies and plans, and to share scientific information resulting from their activities.
05
Section 5
Interoperability
Signatories make reasonable efforts to use, and help develop, shared standards for space infrastructure such as fuel storage, docking, communications, and power, so different nations' systems can work together.
06
Section 6
Emergency assistance
Signatories commit to take all reasonable steps to render assistance to personnel in outer space who are in distress, in line with the Rescue and Return Agreement.
07
Section 7
Registration of space objects
Signatories agree on who will register space objects, as required by the Registration Convention, including for jointly operated missions.
08
Section 8
Release of scientific data
Signatories share scientific data from their missions publicly and in a timely way, while coordinating to protect proprietary and export-controlled information.
09
Section 9
Preserving outer space heritage
Signatories agree to preserve historically significant sites, such as human and robotic landing sites, artifacts, and spacecraft, and to help develop international practices for doing so.
10
Section 10
Space resources
Extracting and using space resources should comply with the Outer Space Treaty and support safe, sustainable activity. Signatories affirm that extraction does not in itself amount to national appropriation.
11
Section 11
Deconfliction of activities
Signatories respect due regard and avoid harmful interference with others. They share the location and nature of their activities and may announce safety zones, while preserving free access to all areas of celestial bodies.
12
Section 12
Orbital debris
Signatories commit to mitigate orbital debris, limiting new harmful debris during normal operations, break-ups, and after a mission ends.
Frequently asked questions
What are the Artemis Accords?
A set of non-binding principles for the civil exploration and use of the Moon, Mars, comets, and asteroids. NASA and the U.S. Department of State drafted them, and eight nations signed the first version on October 13, 2020.
How many countries have signed the Artemis Accords?
76 nations as of September 28, 2026. The most recent is San Marino, which signed on September 25, 2026.
Are the Artemis Accords legally binding?
No. They are a political commitment rather than a treaty. They reaffirm obligations nations already hold under the 1967 Outer Space Treaty and related agreements, and describe how to put those obligations into practice.
Do I need to sign the Accords to join the Artemis program?
NASA treats acceptance of the Accords as a prerequisite for formal participation in the Artemis lunar program. A nation can also sign simply to commit to the principles, without taking part in missions.
Have China and Russia signed?
No. Neither has signed. Both are partners in the separate International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) effort. Thailand and Senegal are among the nations that have joined both initiatives.
Can any country sign?
Yes. The Accords remain open for signature indefinitely, and any nation that commits to the principles can join.
Where can I read the official text?
NASA hosts the signed text as a PDF. We link to it on this page; our summaries are written in plain language and are not a substitute for the official wording.
Plain-language summaries by artemisaccords.com. For the exact wording, read the official text.