Sweden supports the Artemis Agreement – “It is important that the principles are laid down”

Space is in the limelight and more and more nations and companies are aiming to venture into the unknown. For example, Nasa wants to put man on the moon again with the Artemis program.

In connection with this, Nasa has also drawn up a special agreement that nations can support. The agreement is about peaceful exploration of space, openness about activities, sharing data and helping each other in crisis situations. However, the agreement is not binding.

As early as 2020, the first eight countries signed on The Artemis Agreement and since then 30 more signatures have been collected. On April 16, 2024, Sweden became the latest country to end up behind it.

– It is precisely the principles of open data and open information that are important for Sweden as a technology and research nation. If Swedish researchers can get access to data that comes from various activities carried out in space, it is important for Sweden, says Mats Persson, Sweden's Minister of Education and Space, to Ny Teknik.

To the moon and beyond

The Artemis Agreement is largely aimed at reminding and consolidating what it says The Outer Space Treaty of 1967. Other agreements from the 60s and 70s are also mentioned in the new agreement.

The reason the new agreement was drawn up is because a lot has happened in space since then. Today, space is used by more actors and for more purposes.

– The agreement establishes principles for how we should tackle the new in space. For example, if or when we will come to the planet Mars or have a permanent operation on the moon, says Mats Persson.

An important point in the agreement is to use space peacefully. Examples of the opposite can mean disrupting or completely destroying satellites but also annexing land areas on other celestial bodies.

– There are tendencies that countries want to use space based on evil intentions and then it is important that these principles are established. It's about foreign powers that want to exploit Sweden and other countries, says Mats Persson.

More and more countries want to have a presence in space. For example, China has sent several space probes to the moon and Mars, has its own space station and, like the United States, plans to put people on the moon shortly. Russia also has space plans, although they have not been as successful with their ventures as China.

Neither Russia nor China have signed the agreement, are these the countries you have in mind?

– It remains to be seen. But what we can ascertain is that it is European countries, North American countries but also Asian countries such as Japan that have signed the agreement. It shows that democratic countries with a Western view of man and the world are now taking greater responsibility for creating order and order and for peace, science and innovation, says Mats Persson.

Hundreds of millions for a new Swedish astronaut

When asked if there are plans to invest more in space due to Sweden signing this agreement, Mats Persson replies that it is not a coincidence that Sweden is signing the agreement now.

– For example, we have had a Swedish astronaut on the international space station and this is a consequence of the fact that in recent years we have become more involved in space issues and see it as a strategically important issue for Sweden, he says.

Marcus Wandt carried out many different research projects on the ISS space station for just over two weeks. For that trip, Sweden had to pay hundreds of millions of kroner. The private business world, including Saab, sponsored the trip.

The purpose of the space stay was research and to put Sweden on the map. Both Mats Persson and Anna Rathsman, who is director general of the Swedish Space Agency, have previously highlighted getting more young people interested in natural science and space issues was a major driving force behind the trip.

But there is criticism of the venture. In a debate article in Ny Teknik, for example, Rolf Hallencreutz, chairman of the space company AAC Clyde Space, writes that:

“If Sweden is to become a leading space nation, investments must be made in areas where space technology provides benefits now and not just in the distant future. Extremely expensive projects like sending someone to the International Space Station are not optimal for a small space nation like Sweden”

Was a new astronaut the right way to go to strengthen the Swedish space industry?

– It is clear that this has meant a big push forward for the Swedish space industry and I see it as an important investment. And I am convinced that they (Swedish companies, editor's note) already see and will see in the future that they win from that, says Mats Persson.

“Intensive” work is being done on the new space law

In addition to the Artemis agreement and international agreements, Sweden also has its own space law. A few years ago, an update of the law from 1982, but so far the law has not been enforced. Mats Persson says that they are working “intensely” with a space law and will present one “as soon as possible”.