Senegal, a member of the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS), aligns with the Artemis Accords

Senegal Joins the Lunar Exploration Race as a Member of Both the Artemis Accords and the International Lunar Research Station

In a significant move for international space exploration, Senegal has joined the Artemis Accords and the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS), becoming the third nation to be part of both initiatives.

The ceremony to welcome Senegal into the Artemis Accords was led by Brian Hughes, NASA's chief of staff, in the absence of the interim and deputy administrators. The event took place at NASA Headquarters in Washington D.C., where Maram Kairé, the director general of the Senegalese space agency, made a statement earlier.

Established in 2020, the Artemis Accords set best practices for responsible and transparent space exploration and greenlight lunar resource extraction. Senegal's commitment to these principles was emphasized by Brian Hughes during the ceremony. He described Senegal's joining of the Artemis Accords as a demonstration of America's friendship with Senegal.

Senegal's decision to join both lunar exploration initiatives comes as no surprise, given its growing interest in space exploration. The Senegalese space agency was established in March 2023, and Senegal launched its first satellite, Gaindesat-1A, in August 2024.

Senegal views space as a tool for development, particularly in protecting its agriculture industry. The state with the 56th vote that signed both the Artemis Accords and the ILRS in 2023, Senegal aims to use space technology to monitor and predict climate changes that could affect its agriculture.

The global initiative to explore the Moon has largely split into two camps: the Artemis Accords and the International Lunar Research Station. The Artemis Accords, led by the United States, continue to welcome all nations, according to previous US officials. On the other hand, the International Lunar Research Station, spearheaded by China, already has more than a dozen members.

Jonathan Pratt, a State Department official leading the agency's Bureau of African Affairs, attended the ceremony on the US side. The ceremony was also attended by Maram Kairé, who made a statement emphasizing Senegal's commitment to the principles outlined in the Artemis Accords.

Senegal's joining of the Artemis Accords and the ILRS makes it the third nation to do so (after Senegal and Thailand). The International Lunar Research Station aims to build a scientific station at the Moon's south pole by 2035. The Artemis Accords, on the other hand, focus on best practices for responsible and transparent space exploration and lunar resource extraction.

The lunar exploration race is heating up, and Senegal's decision to join both initiatives demonstrates its commitment to advancing space technology and contributing to the global effort to explore the Moon.

Senegal, a member of the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS), aligns with the Artemis Accords