The Artemis Accords: A New Phase in the Development of Outer Space Law

The United States (US) National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has drafted and successfully socialised the Artemis Accords with a number of other Nation States in a bid to ensure ‘safe, responsible and transparent behaviour in space’, including ‘preserving and protecting the outer space environment to ensure a safe and sustainable future in space for all’. At the time of launch in 2020 eight nation states signed the accords with the aim to encourage bilateral and multilateral space cooperation between the Accord signatories, enhancing global understanding of the universe and enhancing global prosperity. The Accords were signed by Australia, Canada, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, the UAE, the United Kingdom, and the United States on 13 October 2020. Importantly, the bold and multinational vision for the future of space exploration has been postured as a key aspect of the Accords. The Accords aim to promote lunar exploration, but they are also critical for enhancing global governance in general.