Brazil becomes the tenth nation to join the Artemis Program

Joint declaration of intent for cooperation in the program was signed by Brazil and the USA

On December 14, 2020, the Minister of Science Technology and Innovations (MCTI), Astronaut Marcos Pontes, and the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Agency of the United States of America (NASA), Jim Bridenstine, signed a Joint Declaration of intent inserting Brazil in the list of nations that have already expressed interest in participating in the Artemis Program. This is an important milestone for Brazilian technology and scientific and spatial knowledge, marking Brazil’s return to international missions to explore outer space.

The Artemis Program consists of NASA’s space mission that, with the international partnership, will take the first woman and the next man to the Moon, and intends to maintain the human presence on the lunar soil in a sustainable manner, as well as preparing us for the next giant leap, the exploration of Mars. Until now, the initiative has involved the participation of the USA, Australia, Canada, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and Ukraine.

Since October 2019, the Brazilian Space Agency (AEB) has held meetings with NASA in order to identify ways to contribute to space missions, considering the participation of the Brazilian space industry, academia and research institutes. As part of this approach, AEB has joined, since September 2020, the International Space Exploration Coordination Group (ISECG), which brings together 26 Space Agencies from around the world. At these meetings, AEB experts have been talking to representatives of the other agencies involved in space exploration missions, including those related to the Moon.

The Brazilian Space Agency, together with the MCTI, intends to start, from 2021, projects associated with the exploration of the Moon, which will serve to inspire and promote Brazilian participation in the development of an international lunar spacecraft, and a lunar rover completely produced by national companies and institutions. The initiatives will integrate international missions, such as the Artemis Program and will serve to improve Brazilian skills in the space sector, in addition to the development of a space education program aimed at different school levels in Brazil.

The signing of the Joint Declaration was also attended by the Ambassador of Brazil to the USA, Nestor Forster, the US Ambassador to Brazil, Todd Chappman, the Undersecretary for Economic Growth, Energy and Environment of the US Department of State, Keith Krach, the substitute President of the Brazilian Space Agency, Aluísio Camargo, and MCTI’s Secretary of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Paulo Alvim. Brazil’s return to international space missions with peaceful objectives was made possible thanks to the support of MCTI, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MRE) and the Brazilian Embassy in Washington, which provided the necessary support for various negotiations between the AEB and NASA.

Joining the Artemis Program will be a new opportunity for Brazilian industry, academia and research institutes to contribute their knowledge in the benefit of the joint Outer Space exploration.