GS PAPER II: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.

Context: New Zealand became the eleventh signatory to the Artemis Accords, a blueprint for space cooperation and supporting the U.S. space agency's plans to return humans to the moon by 2024 and to launch a historic human mission to Mars.

About Artemis Accords:

• This accord ensures that space exploration is conducted in a safe, sustainable and transparent manner and in full compliance with international law.
• As more countries establish a presence in outer space, via research stations, satellites, or even rocket launches, these accords provide a set of principles to create a safe and transparent environment that inspires exploration, science, and commercial activities.
• The other signatories to the accords are the U.S., Australia, Britain, Canada, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, South Korea, the United Arab Emirates, and Ukraine. Brazil also said it plans to sign.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/new-zealand-latest-nation-to-sign-space-agreement-with-nasa/article34696119.ece?homepage=true

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