Vietnam Becomes 78th Nation to Sign Artemis Accords

According to NASA News Releases, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam has become the 78th nation to sign the Artemis Accords, thereby joining a developing group of nations dedicated to the responsible, transparent, and peaceful exploration of space.

NASA Deputy Administrator Matt Anderson stated during recorded remarks for the ceremony that Vietnam is joining at an important point in the development of its own space program. He noted that NASA and the Vietnam National Space Center have established momentum in areas such as satellite innovation, radar-based Earth observation, and land-use research, and that joining the Artemis Accords initiates a new phase in that relationship, building upon aligned principles.

Vietnam’s Minister of Science and Technology, Vũ Hải Quân, signed the Artemis Accords on behalf of the country at the Vietnam International Digital Week in Ha Long. The United States Ambassador to Vietnam, Jennifer Wicks, was also present at the signing event.

This action by Vietnam extends the U.S.-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership into a new domain. This partnership, which has spanned over 30 years, encompasses technological cooperation, defense, economic ties, law enforcement, and war legacy, and it supports peace, stability, and prosperity in the free and open Indo-Pacific.

Prior to this, NASA collaborated with Vietnam’s Vietnamese-German University to support the Soil Moisture Active Passive mission, which monitors surface-soil water globally. Furthermore, Vietnam has established its National Space Center in Hanoi and is advancing domestic satellite capabilities through the LOTUSat program, which focuses on weather monitoring, disaster response, and Earth observation.

In 2020, NASA and the State Department, alongside seven other founding nations, established the Artemis Accords in response to increasing interest in lunar activities from both private companies and governments. These Accords introduced initial practical guidelines intended to improve coordination and safety among nations exploring the Moon, Mars, and beyond.

By signing the Artemis Accords, Vietnam commits to exploring space in a transparent and peaceful manner, providing aid to those in need, ensuring access to scientific data for all of humanity, preventing interference with other activities, and preserving historically significant sites and artifacts by establishing best practices for space exploration for the benefit of everyone.

NASA anticipates that more countries will sign the Artemis Accords in the coming months and years as it continues its efforts to foster a safe, peaceful, and prosperous future in space.