Bill Nelson is in Luxembourg to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge as part of the American delegation.
He will participate in the commemorations of the 80th anniversary of the Ardennes Offensive in Hamm at the American cemetery before an interview with Prime Minister Luc Frieden in Senningen. The head of NASA will also meet with the Grand Duke.
Signing of a new agreement between Luxembourg and the United States
On the occasion of his visit to Luxembourg, the head of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Bill Nelson, met the Minister of the Economy, SMEs, Energy and of Tourism, Lex Delles, to discuss in more detail the collaboration between the United States and Luxembourg in the space sector.
During this meeting, they signed a new framework agreement between the governments of the two countries, for a period of ten years, aimed at strengthening their cooperation in exploration and use of space resources for peaceful purposes.
This framework agreement provides for the establishment of a legal framework facilitating joint scientific and technological projects, in a spirit of transparency and for the benefit of humanity. The parties have notably planned to develop cooperation programs, on Earth or in Space, which may include various activities such as the exchange of scientific data or personnel, terrestrial and space applications, research facilities, instruments scientific activities, education and public awareness activities, or participation in joint workshops or meetings.
These activities will be carried out by NASA, on the American side, and by the Ministry of the Economy and the Luxembourg Space Agency (LSA), on the Luxembourg side.
It follows the Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2019 which stipulated that NASA and LSA intended to collaborate in the field of civil space activities related to human exploration and robotics, space and Earth sciences , and space technology.
This framework agreement is also in line with the Artemis agreements. The United States and Luxembourg were among the first 8 signatories of the Artemis Accords, which now number 50. These agreements provide a common set of principles aimed at improving the governance of civilian exploration and use of the outer space.
Belgium
