Singapore signs US-led agreement governing space exploration

WASHINGTON, DC — Singapore became the 18th country to join the Artemis Accords on Monday (March 28), an international agreement that aims to promote the peaceful, sustainable and beneficial use of space for all of humankind.

The Accords, which was inked on behalf of Singapore by Trade and Industry Minister Gan Kim Yong, lays out a common set of principles to govern civil space exploration and the use of the moon, Mars, comets and asteroids for peaceful purposes.

Singapore is the first Southeast Asian country to sign the agreement.

Mr Gan spoke about the agreement in a speech to representatives of the United States State Department and Nasa at the Four Seasons Hotel in Washington, on the sidelines of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s working visit to the US.

"I hope that by joining the Artemis Accords, Singapore will be able to cooperate more closely with like-minded partners like the US (to) progress the international conversation on the space norms and spur the development of the global space sector," he said.

"I look forward to seeing more exchanges and collaborations among companies, officials and researchers between Singapore and the US as well as other Artemis Accords signatories, leading to a robust space sector in Singapore."