The Republic of Serbia has become the 69th nation to sign the Artemis Accords, formalizing its commitment to responsible and transparent space exploration. The agreement was signed by Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs Marko Đurić during a ceremony held at NASA’s headquarters in Washington.

NASA Deputy Administrator Matt Anderson highlighted the historical ties between Serbia and the U.S. space program, noting the contributions of Serbian engineers during the Apollo era. Among those recognized was Milojko “Mike” Vučelić, a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his efforts in the safe return of the Apollo 13 crew. Minister Đurić also referenced the legacy of the “Serbian Seven,” a group of engineers whose technical expertise supported various aspects of the Apollo missions, including lunar landing analysis and spacecraft docking.

The Artemis Accords, established in 2020 by NASA and the U.S. Department of State, provide a set of principles for international cooperation in space. These guidelines emphasize peaceful exploration, the sharing of scientific data, the provision of emergency assistance, and the protection of historically significant sites. By joining the initiative, Serbia gains the opportunity to participate in future lunar exploration projects, including the development of technology payloads and CubeSats for Artemis missions.

The signing ceremony was attended by several officials, including Serbian Ambassador to the U.S. Dragan Šutanovac, State Secretary for Serbia’s Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation Marija Gnjatović, and U.S. Assistant Secretary for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs Wesley Brooks. NASA continues to expand the coalition, with further signatories expected as the agency works toward establishing a sustained presence on the Moon.

Source: NASA