Thailand has made history by becoming the first nation to join both the Artemis Accords and a similar Chinese-led initiative, the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS). The Artemis Accords signing ceremony took place in Bangkok, attended by the U.S. ambassador and Thai government officials. Thailand is now the 51st signatory to the Accords, joining just days after Panama and Austria.
“Thailand’s commitment to the Artemis Accords will enhance the country’s engagement with NASA and the international community,” stated NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. Nelson also delivered recorded remarks at the ceremony.
This development follows Thailand’s signing of a memorandum of cooperation with China regarding participation in the ILRS eight months prior. While the ILRS principles aren't publicly available, they're understood to share conceptual similarities with the Artemis Accords. U.S. officials have consistently maintained that dual participation is permissible.
“Comparing the Artemis Accords and ILRS is a little bit apples and oranges,” explained Brian Wessel, a NASA attorney specializing in international space law, during a recent symposium. “The Artemis Accords are principles for civil space activities, whereas ILRS is a concrete program of international cooperation.”
Wessel noted that the ILRS principles are “broadly consistent” with the Artemis Accords, except for the crucial element of transparency, present in the Accords but absent in the ILRS principles. Karen Feldstein, NASA’s associate administrator for international and interagency relations, observed that China's focus on responsible space behavior is positive, stating, “An apparent emulation of the Accords, even if it is only rhetoric, is a powerful public acknowledgement…that exploration be conducted safely and sustainably.”
Thailand's decision, anticipated for months, is seen as a positive sign of compatibility between the two initiatives. Wessel emphasized the value of Thailand’s dual participation: “From the Artemis Accords perspective…it is really helpful to have voices at that table that also have a foot in the efforts of other blocs.”