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<\/a><\/figure>The Republic of Serbia signed the Artemis Accords Thursday during a ceremony hosted by NASA at the agency\u2019s Headquarters in Washington, becoming the 69th nation to join a large community of like-minded nations committed to the peaceful, transparent, and responsible exploration of space.<\/p>\n
\u201cSerbia\u2019s connection to NASA reaches back to the Apollo program, when the work of Serbian engineers helped make some of humanity\u2019s greatest achievements in space possible,\u201d said NASA Deputy Administrator Matt Anderson. \u201cAmong them was Milojko \u2018Mike\u2019 Vu\u010deli\u0107, who was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for the critical role he played in bringing the Apollo 13 crew safely home. Their story stands as a reminder that the greatest achievements in space are made possible by talented people working together.\u201d<\/p>\n
The broader team of Serbian American engineers played key roles during the Apollo era across systems engineering, propulsion, power systems, spacecraft docking, electronics reliability, and mission coordination. Their expertise supported critical functions ranging from lunar landing analysis to safe spacecraft docking.<\/p>\n
Serbia\u2019s Minister of Foreign Affairs Marko \u0110uri\u0107 signed the Artemis Accords on behalf of the country.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe great beyond has always inspired humanity to achieve its greatest feats \u2014 from the Roman \u2018per aspera ad astra\u2019 to Norman Vincent Peale\u2019s belief that if we aim for the Moon, we will at least land among the stars,\u201d said \u0110uri\u0107. \u201cThose words feel especially fitting today. We come from a nation of great minds like Nikola Tesla and Milutin Milankovi\u0107, but also from the legacy of David Vujic, one of the pioneers of the Apollo missions and a member of the \u2018Serbian Seven,\u2019 a group of engineers and technicians whose contributions to NASA helped make the Moon landing possible. In that spirit, we owe it to both our brave ancestors and our children to keep pushing toward new frontiers \u2014 to explore, to inspire one another, and to dare even greater things.\u201d<\/p>\n
By signing the Artemis Accords, nations open the door to opportunities for future lunar exploration with NASA, such as providing science and technology payloads for the U.S.-led Moon Base and CubeSats for upcoming Artemis missions, advancing humanity\u2019s return to the Moon, and shaping the Golden Age of space exploration and innovation.<\/p>\n
Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia to the United States Dragan \u0160utanovac; State Secretary for Serbia\u2019s Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation Marija Gnjatovi\u0107; and U.S. Department of State Assistant Secretary for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs Wesley Brooks all participated in Serbia\u2019s signing ceremony.<\/p>\n
In 2020, NASA and the Department of State joined with seven other founding nations to establish the Artemis Accords, responding to the growing interest in lunar activities by both governments and private companies. They introduced the first set of practical principles aimed at enhancing the safety and coordination between nations as they explore the Moon, Mars, and beyond, committing nations to:<\/p>\n
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- explore peaceably and transparently<\/li>\n
- render aid to those in need<\/li>\n
- enable access to scientific data<\/li>\n
- ensure activities do not interfere with those of others<\/li>\n
- preserve historically significant sites and artifacts by developing best practices<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Five years later, President Donald J. Trump\u2019s National Space Policy directed NASA to establish a sustained lunar outpost. With this Moon Base<\/a>, NASA is putting the principles of the Artemis Accords into practice, inviting every signatory to take part in the endeavor.<\/p>\n
More countries are expected to sign the Artemis Accords in the months and years ahead, as NASA continues its work to establish a safe, peaceful, and prosperous future in space.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Learn more about the Artemis Accords at:<\/p>\n