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The Artemis Accords are rules for a new moon era

September 25, 2026
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Here’s astronaut Christina Koch looking back at Earth, out the window of the Orion spacecraft – aka Integrity – on its way to the moon during the Artemis 2 mission. The Artemis Accords — a set of guidelines for the exploration of space, with a focus on the moon — are named after the Artemis program. Image via NASA.

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The Artemis Accords are rules for a new moon era

In 2020, NASA and the U.S. Department of State led an effort to establish guidelines for human expansion into space. Working with international partners, they came up with the Artemis Accords. NASA describes the accords as:

… a common set of principles to enhance the governance of the civil exploration and use of outer space.

As of late September 2026, 74 countries have signed the Artemis Accords. There are some notable exceptions, including Russia and China.

While the rules are for space in general, they are largely focused on humans’ expansion onto the moon. Thus, they are named for NASA’s Artemis program, which currently aims to have humans standing on the moon again in early 2028.

What are the Artemis Accords?

The Artemis Accords are a set of nonbinding principles for how countries should cooperate in space. The accords build on the 1967 Outer Space Treaty. NASA focuses on a number of key areas, including:

  • peaceful purposes
  • transparency
  • interoperability
  • emergency assistance
  • registration of space objects
  • release of scientific data
  • preserving outer space heritage
  • space resources
  • deconfliction of space activities
  • orbital debris

So, for example, the accords call for protecting historic sites such as the Apollo landing sites. They also support the use of space resources, such as lunar water or asteroid materials, provided those activities comply with international law.

Humanity suddenly has many plans for expanding into space. And it’s not just countries, but private companies with plans as well. So the intention here is to make space safer and more cooperative.

For example, if two nations are operating in the same area of the moon, the accords call for them to share information and coordinate their activities to avoid harmful interference. Temporary safety zones can help accomplish that without claiming ownership of lunar territory.

The accords don’t replace the Outer Space Treaty or create a new international space law. Instead, they just provide a common framework for putting responsible practices into action. As NASA puts it, the goal is a “safe, peaceful and prosperous future in space.”

Closeup of top half of moon with Mars in the background.
The Artemis Accords are a set of guidelines for exploration of space with a focus on the moon. NASA named the accords after its Artemis program, which seeks to return people to the moon’s surface and establish a base. Image via NASA.

Questions surrounding the Artemis Accords

There are criticisms and questions surrounding the Artemis Accords. For one, the accords aren’t a binding law but set of agreements. Plus, the Artemis Accords don’t regulate private companies directly. As in, no private companies are signing the accords. Instead, countries sign the accords and are responsible for ensuring that companies operating under their jurisdiction follow the rules.

So, who gets to make the rules for space? The United States is doing much of the steering on the accords. But should it be an international organization, such as the United Nations? The UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space is already working on possible international principles governing space-resource activities. Some delegations at the United Nations have argued that developing countries should not be left behind or excluded from the benefits of space exploration.

A second question is on who gets access to valuable lunar resources. How should those resources be governed? The UN discussions have included calls for rules addressing issues such as sustainability, access, benefit sharing and the rights of countries without the ability to conduct space-resource missions themselves.

Finally, there is the idea of safety zones. The accords allow temporary zones around lunar operations to prevent interference. But the Outer Space Treaty says no country can claim sovereignty over the moon or appropriate it through occupation or use. And couldn’t some countries make a temporary zone that eventually functions like a territorial claim?

While some framework for cooperation in space is necessary, it seems hammering out the details will be a debate for years to come.

Moon crater with half in black and white and half in rainbow hues.
The Shackleton crater on the moon with an elevation analysis (left) and shaded relief (right). This 12.5-mile-diameter (21-km-diameter) crater near the south pole is in permanent shadow. Image via NASA.

Bottom line: The Artemis Accords are a set guidelines for peaceful space exploration. But questions remain about who makes the rules and controls space resources.

Kelly Kizer Whitt

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About the Author:

Kelly Kizer Whitt writes and edits some of the most fascinating stories at EarthSky.org. She’s been writing about science, with a focus on astronomy, for decades. She began her career at Astronomy Magazine and made regular contributions to other outlets, including AstronomyToday and the Sierra Club. She has nine published books, including a children’s picture book, Solar System Forecast, and a young adult dystopian novel, A Different Sky.



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