The Republic of Mauritius has officially entered the Artemis Accords, a multinational agreement focused on the safe and transparent exploration of space. The signing ceremony took place in Ébène, where Navindsing Jugmohunsing, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Tertiary Education, Science and Research, signed the agreement on behalf of the nation.
This addition marks the 70th signatory to the Accords and the seventh from the African continent. NASA Deputy Administrator Matt Anderson noted that the partnership aims to build a foundation for future lunar and deep-space missions while ensuring space remains accessible and peaceful. Jugmohunsing emphasized that as a Small Island Developing State, Mauritius intends to contribute to space governance and leverage innovation to support global interests, including environmental protection.
The relationship between NASA and Mauritius dates back to the mid-20th century. Between 1965 and 1980, the island served as a strategic location for satellite tracking stations, which provided essential data for geodetic analysis. This historical cooperation supported navigation technologies that have evolved from the Apollo era to the current Artemis program.
Established in 2020 by NASA and the U.S. Department of State, the Artemis Accords outline a framework for international space cooperation. Signatories commit to principles such as transparent operations, the sharing of scientific data, and the preservation of historic space sites. These guidelines are intended to govern activities on the Moon, Mars, and beyond as international interest in lunar exploration continues to grow.
Source: NASA
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