Vietnam becomes the 78th nation to sign the Artemis Accords

On October 28, Vietnam’s science minister, Vũ Hải Quân, signed a pledge about how countries behave in space. It is called the Artemis Accords. NASA says Vietnam is the 78th country to sign. Artemis is NASA’s program to return people to the Moon. The Accords are shared principles for exploring space peacefully.

Think of it as joining a club with a code of conduct. Members promise to explore space peacefully, openly and responsibly. That is NASA’s wording. NASA Deputy Administrator Matt Anderson spoke about Vietnam’s timing. He said it is joining at an important point in its space program. SpaceWatch reports Vietnam wants to expand its space capabilities. The Accords are principles, not a treaty with a court behind it.

Keep reading — what to watch

Will the list keep growing? The count is now 78. Each signer adds weight to the American-led approach to space rules. Watch which countries sign next. Watch, too, whether the pledges are ever tested in a real dispute.