Norway became the 55th nation to endorse the Artemis Accords on May 15th, underscoring the Biden administration's commitment to fostering responsible space exploration. Cecilie Myrseth, Norway’s minister for trade and industry, formalized the agreement at the Norwegian Space Agency headquarters in Oslo. “This is an important step for enabling Norway to contribute to broader international cooperation to ensure the peaceful exploration and use of outer space,” Myrseth stated.
This follows Finland and Bangladesh, who signed earlier in 2024, demonstrating continued global participation. The Artemis Accords, based on the Outer Space Treaty, emphasize transparency and the sharing of scientific data. While the rate of new signatories has slowed, the ongoing support indicates a consistent commitment to the Accords.
“We’re grateful for the strong and meaningful collaboration we’ve already had with the Norwegian Space Agency,” Janet Petro, NASA’s acting administrator, commented. “Now, by signing the Artemis Accords, Norway is not only supporting the future of exploration, but also helping us define it with all our partners for the moon, Mars and beyond.”
However, the future of international collaboration is clouded by proposed budget cuts. The White House's fiscal year 2026 budget suggests canceling key Artemis programs, such as the Gateway space station. Alex MacDonald, former NASA chief economist, highlighted the Gateway's significance: “Gateway ‘is one of the critical elements of international partnership.’ The Artemis Accords don’t actually include you in the program in a material way, but the agreements for Gateway did.” The potential cancellation raises questions about the continued involvement of international partners like Europe, Canada, Japan, and the United Arab Emirates, who are contributing to the Gateway and the Orion spacecraft. Repurposing existing elements might become necessary.