<p>Sweden has officially joined the Artemis Accords, becoming the 38th country to pledge its commitment of outlined principles such as transparency, interoperability, and the peaceful use of space.</p>

<p>The Artemis Accords are a set of principles and guidelines for international cooperation in space exploration. They were announced by NASA in May 2020 and named after NASA's Artemis program which is aimed at returning humans to the Moon by the mid-2020s.</p>

<p>The announcement came at a ceremony held in Stockholm&nbsp;on Tuesday (Apr 16) where Sweden's Minister for Education Dr Mats Persson signed the accords.</p>

<p>The countries that have signed the accords so far are - Angola, Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Columbia, Czech Republic, Ecuador, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Luxemburg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Poland, Republic of Korea, Romania, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uruguay&nbsp;</p>

<p>NASA Administrator Bill Nelson stated, “Our nations have worked together to discover new secrets in our Solar System, and now, we welcome you to a global coalition that is committed to exploring the heavens openly, transparently, responsibly, and in peace. The United States and Sweden share the same bedrock principles, and we’re excited to expand these principles to the cosmos.”</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-believe-uranus-and-neptune-are-ice-giants-but-a-new-study-hints-at-something-else-712635">Scientists believe Uranus and Neptune are 'ice giants,' but a new study hints at something else</a></p>

<p>Minister Persson highlighted the significance of this partnership, saying, “By joining the Artemis Accords, Sweden strengthens its strategic space partnership with the U.S. on space covering areas such as Swedish space research and the space industry, which in turn also strengthens Sweden’s total defence capability.”</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-mars-helicopter-sends-last-message-to-earth-712591">NASA's Ingenuity Mars helicopter sends last message to Earth</a></p>

<p>The US ambassador to Sweden Erik D Ramanathan&nbsp;also spoke at the event, pointing out the importance of collaboration in space exploration.&nbsp;</p>

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<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/uae-reels-for-a-third-day-after-record-breaking-storm-712661">UAE reels for a third day after record-breaking storm</a></strong></p>

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<p>The Artemis Accords, spearheaded jointly by NASA and the US Department of State, are signed at a national level rather than by individual organisations.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>
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Sweden has officially joined the Artemis Accords, becoming the 38th country to pledge its commitment of outlined principles such as transparency, interoperability, and the peaceful use of space.

Sweden has officially joined the Artemis Accords, becoming the 38th country to pledge its commitment of outlined principles such as transparency, interoperability, and the peaceful use of space. The Artemis Accords are a set of principles and guidelines for international cooperation in space exploration. They were announced by NASA in May 2020 and named after NASA's Artemis program which is aimed at returning humans to the Moon by the mid-2020s. The announcement came at a ceremony held in Stockholm on Tuesday (Apr 16) where Sweden's Minister for Education Dr Mats Persson signed the accords. The countries that have signed the accords so far are - Angola, Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Columbia, Czech Republic, Ecuador, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Luxemburg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Poland, Republic of Korea, Romania, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uruguay NASA Administrator Bill Nelson stated, “Our nations have worked together to discover new secrets in our Solar System, and now, we welcome you to a global coalition that is committed to exploring the heavens openly, transparently, responsibly, and in peace. The United States and Sweden share the same bedrock principles, and we’re excited to expand these principles to the cosmos.” Also Read | Scientists believe Uranus and Neptune are 'ice giants,' but a new study hints at something else Minister Persson highlighted the significance of this partnership, saying, “By joining the Artemis Accords, Sweden strengthens its strategic space partnership with the U.S. on space covering areas such as Swedish space research and the space industry, which in turn also strengthens Sweden’s total defence capability.” Also Read | NASA's Ingenuity Mars helicopter sends last message to Earth The US ambassador to Sweden Erik D Ramanathan also spoke at the event, pointing out the importance of collaboration in space exploration. Watch | UAE reels for a third day after record-breaking storm × The Artemis Accords, spearheaded jointly by NASA and the US Department of State, are signed at a national level rather than by individual organisations. (With inputs from agencies)

Sweden joins Artemis Accords vowing commitment to peaceful space exploration

<p>As NASA's new SLS rocket prepares&nbsp;to blast off to space as part of the Artemis programme, the US space agency announced it had identified landing regions near the lunar South Pole for the Artemis III misson targeted for 2025.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Selecting these regions means we are one giant leap closer to returning humans to the Moon for the first time since Apollo,” NASA's top official &nbsp;Mark Kirasich responsible for the Artemis said.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nasas-massive-us-moon-rocket-emerges-for-debut-launch-507701">Also Read:&nbsp;NASA's massive US moon rocket emerges for debut launch</a></p>

<p>Americans had last been to the Moon as part of the Apollo mission in 1972. NASA's Artemis project intends to put the first woman and the first person of colour on the Moon's surface.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;NASA Satellite captures Britain turning brown due to drought</strong></p>

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<p><strong>Which landing regions on the Moon were identified?</strong></p>

<p>NASA identified thirteen sites for the potential landing including Faustini Rim A, Peak Near Shackleton, Connecting Ridge, Connecting Ridge Extension, de Gerlache Rim 1<br />
de Gerlache Rim 2, de Gerlache-Kocher Massif, Haworth, Malapert Massif, Leibnitz Beta Plateau, Nobile Rim 1, Nobile Rim 2 and Amundsen Rim.</p>

<p>NASA said the lunar regions contain "diverse geologic features" and that it allows "flexibility to launch throughout the year".</p>

<p><strong>How were the regions selected?</strong></p>

<p>NASA said it had engaged scientists and engineers to assess the lunar South Pole using data from the lunar reconnaissance orbiter. The US space agency also took help from earlier publications and lunar science findings while evaluating regions based on their ability to accommodate safe landings.</p>

<p>NASA scientists studied terrain slope, ease of communication including lighting conditions.</p>

<p>It also assessed the space launch rocket systems, Orion spacecraft&nbsp;and the SpaceX starship landing system. The scientists said all sites had proximity to the lunar South Pole and were rich in resources with terrain unexplored by humans.</p>

<p>(With inputs from Agencies)</p>

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As NASA's new SLS rocket prepares to blast off to space as part of the Artemis programme, the US space agency announced it had identified landing regions near the lunar South Pole for the Artemis III misson targeted for 2025.

As NASA's new SLS rocket prepares to blast off to space as part of the Artemis programme, the US space agency announced it had identified landing regions near the lunar South Pole for the Artemis III misson targeted for 2025. "Selecting these regions means we are one giant leap closer to returning humans to the Moon for the first time since Apollo,” NASA's top official Mark Kirasich responsible for the Artemis said. Also Read: NASA's massive US moon rocket emerges for debut launch Americans had last been to the Moon as part of the Apollo mission in 1972. NASA's Artemis project intends to put the first woman and the first person of colour on the Moon's surface. Watch: NASA Satellite captures Britain turning brown due to drought Which landing regions on the Moon were identified? NASA identified thirteen sites for the potential landing including Faustini Rim A, Peak Near Shackleton, Connecting Ridge, Connecting Ridge Extension, de Gerlache Rim 1 de Gerlache Rim 2, de Gerlache-Kocher Massif, Haworth, Malapert Massif, Leibnitz Beta Plateau, Nobile Rim 1, Nobile Rim 2 and Amundsen Rim. NASA said the lunar regions contain "diverse geologic features" and that it allows "flexibility to launch throughout the year". How were the regions selected? NASA said it had engaged scientists and engineers to assess the lunar South Pole using data from the lunar reconnaissance orbiter. The US space agency also took help from earlier publications and lunar science findings while evaluating regions based on their ability to accommodate safe landings. NASA scientists studied terrain slope, ease of communication including lighting conditions. It also assessed the space launch rocket systems, Orion spacecraft and the SpaceX starship landing system. The scientists said all sites had proximity to the lunar South Pole and were rich in resources with terrain unexplored by humans. (With inputs from Agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

NASA's Moon landing sites for Artemis III mission: What are they?

Eight countries have signed an international pact for moon exploration called the Artemis Accords, NASA announced on Tuesday as the U.S. space agency tries to shape standards for building long-term settlements on the lunar surface.

Eight nations sign NASA's international agreement for Moon exploration