BRUSSELS — Germany signed the Artemis Accords Sept. 14, adding one in all Europe’s largest space powers to a document outlining best practices for sustainable space exploration.
Germany became the 29th country to sign the accords during a ceremony on the German ambassador’s residence in Washington attended by U.S. and German officials. The document was signed by Walter Pelzer, director general for the German space agency on the German Aerospace Center, or DLR.
“Germany and america have been successful partners in space for a very long time,” Pelzer said in an announcement. “The German signing of the Artemis Accords gives an additional boost to this joint endeavor to perform programs for the exploration of space.”
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said in an announcement he was “thrilled” by the signing. “Germany has long been one in all NASA’s closest and most capable international partners, and their signing today demonstrates their leadership now and into the longer term, a future defined by limitless possibilities in space and the promise of goodwill here on Earth.”
Germany can be one in all the largest European space nations. It committed 3.5 billion euros ($3.7 billion) to the European Space Agency ultimately November’s ministerial summit, greater than some other member. Five of the six largest contributors to ESA — Germany, France, Italy, the UK and Spain — have now signed the accords, together with several other members.
“As a political commitment, the ability of the Accords comes from the variety and unity of its signatories,” said Mike Gold, chief growth officer at Redwire Space and a former NASA official who helped lead development of the accords. “Germany signing unifies the biggest contributors to ESA and sends an unqualified message to all nations that this unprecedented coalition of nations stand united in support of a peaceful and prosperous future in space for all of humanity to enjoy.”
German officials didn’t publicly state why they waited until now to sign the accords. In an announcement, DLR said that the accords “reaffirm” their commitment to the Outer Space Treaty and related international agreements. Backers of the accords have long argued that the document is meant to “operationalize” the Outer Space Treaty by explaining how certain principles contained in it needs to be carried out.
“The Outer Space Treaty is an incredible document that’s as relevant today because it was in 1967. Nonetheless, without the Artemis Accords, which implement the obligations of the Treaty, it’s just words on paper,” Gold said. “I’m thrilled that Germany is joining the Artemis Accords family of countries to be sure that the work of the United Nations transitions from concept to reality, making a peaceful and prosperous future in space for all of humanity to enjoy.”
DLR added that it continued to support work to develop recent binding space treaties, potentially on the difficulty of utilization of space resources, one in all the topics covered within the Artemis Accords.
“Germany will proceed to support the event of a binding international legal framework for activities on celestial bodies on the idea of the UN Outer Space Treaties, specifically as a basis for using space resources and for an improved exchange of data on space activities between all States Parties,” DLR stated.
Germany’s signing of the Artemis Accords comes shortly before signatories are scheduled to satisfy on the International Astronautical Congress in Baku, Azerbaijan, in early October. The members are expected to debate progress by working groups studying issues regarding lunar surface operations and inspiring more emerging space nations to sign on to the accords.