Mauritius becomes 70th signatory to Artemis Accords

The Republic of Mauritius has officially joined the Artemis Accords, becoming the 70th signatory and the seventh African nation to join the global coalition. The signing ceremony took place in the city of Ébène, where Navindsing Jugmohunsing, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Tertiary Education, Science and Research, signed the document on behalf of the country.

NASA Deputy Administrator Matt Anderson delivered video remarks for the event, welcoming Mauritius to the community. Anderson stated that the accession reinforces the commitment to ensuring space remains peaceful, accessible, and beneficial for all. He noted that America’s return to the Moon aims to ignite a Golden Age of exploration, a goal that requires capable partners and a shared commitment to responsible exploration.

Jugmohunsing described the move as a defining chapter in Mauritius’s New Space journey. Representing a Small Island Developing State in the Indian Ocean, she emphasised the nation’s commitment to using space to protect oceans and coastlines while amplifying the voices of similar nations. She added that Mauritius stands ready to help shape the future of space governance and unlock new opportunities for innovation and partnership.

U.S. officials Sarah Troutman, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, and Craig Halbmaier, U.S. Chargé d’Affaires to Mauritius, witnessed the signing. The event highlights a renewed diplomatic and scientific alignment between the two nations, building on historical ties that date back to the mid-20th century.

Between 1965 and 1980, NASA utilised satellite missions and tracking stations in Mauritius for global mapping and geodetic analysis. These efforts supported navigation technologies used from the Apollo to the Artemis programmes. The historical data collected during this period helped strengthen the foundation for the partnership reaffirmed today through the Accords.

Established in 2020 by NASA and the Department of State alongside seven other founding nations, the Artemis Accords set practical principles for safe and coordinated space exploration. The agreement supports NASA’s goal of establishing a sustained lunar outpost, a directive reinforced by President Donald J. Trump’s National Space Policy. The Accords commit signatories to fostering responsible exploration of the Moon, Mars, and beyond.

NASA indicated that more countries are expected to sign the Artemis Accords in the months and years ahead. The agency continues its work to establish a safe, peaceful, and prosperous future in space, inviting every signatory, including Mauritius, to take part in the lunar outpost endeavor.