Saudi Arabia Signs Artemis Accords with NASA to Explore Moon and Mars

The moon is seen during a partial lunar eclipse. Reuters file photo
The moon is seen during a partial lunar eclipse. Reuters file photo
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Saudi Arabia Signs Artemis Accords with NASA to Explore Moon and Mars

The moon is seen during a partial lunar eclipse. Reuters file photo
The moon is seen during a partial lunar eclipse. Reuters file photo

Saudi Arabia signed on Saturday the Artemis Accords with NASA to join the international alliance in civil exploration and the use of the moon, Mars, meteorites, and comets for peace and the beneficial use of space for all of humanity, and to bring Man back on the moon.

The Artemis Accords align with the national priorities for innovation that the Kingdom announced end of June, including future economies, in which space is the next trillion opportunity for the world by 2040 and can aid in the growth of a multitude of sectors and create thousands of jobs.

The agreement was signed during the US president’s visit to Saudi Arabia and was attended by Abdullah Alswaha, Chairman of the Board of the Saudi Space Commission, and Saudi Ambassador to the US Princess Reema bint Bandar bin Sultan Al Saud.

CEO of the Saudi Space Commission Mohammed Altamimi signed the Accords on behalf of the Kingdom, while NASA was represented by Senator Bill Nelson.

The Artemis Accords include 13 items that aim in general to affirm the Kingdom’s international presence and its active contribution to joint international projects, and bolster the Kingdom’s positioning as a leading nation in the “New Space” sector through its contributions to emerging space activities in science and exploration missions, empowering the space economy, and developing research capabilities and human capital.

Joining the Artemis Accords affirms the Kingdom’s commitment to sustainable space exploration and the peaceful and responsible use of space exploration, boosts the Kingdom’s ambitions in the space sector and is in line with its plans to diversify the economy, attract foreign direct investments and create thousands of jobs for Saudi youth.

The Accords will launch its three execution phases with the first phase to send unmanned space missions for testing and scientific experiments, followed by the second phase that will focus on sending astronauts to explore and return without landing on the moon.

The third phase will have the astronauts land on the moon’s surface and continue research and exploration. These three phases will pave the way for humanity to explore space and other celestial bodies.



Elizabeth Strout, Miranda July are Among Finalists for the Women's Prize for Fiction

Yael Van Der Wouden arrives at the Booker Prize award dinner in London, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (ΑΡ Photo/Alberto Pezzali, File)
Yael Van Der Wouden arrives at the Booker Prize award dinner in London, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (ΑΡ Photo/Alberto Pezzali, File)
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Elizabeth Strout, Miranda July are Among Finalists for the Women's Prize for Fiction

Yael Van Der Wouden arrives at the Booker Prize award dinner in London, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (ΑΡ Photo/Alberto Pezzali, File)
Yael Van Der Wouden arrives at the Booker Prize award dinner in London, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (ΑΡ Photo/Alberto Pezzali, File)

American authors Elizabeth Strout and Miranda July are among finalists announced Wednesday for the Women’s Prize for Fiction, alongside four debut novelists exploring the search for freedom in different countries and cultures.

Pulitzer Prize winner Strout’s Maine-set mystery novel “Tell Me Everything” and writer'-filmmaker July’s “All Fours,” in which a “semi-famous artist” seeks a new life, are shortlisted for the 30,000 pound ($39,000) prize. It's open to female English-language writers from any country.

The contenders also include Dutch writer Yael van der Wouden’s postwar story “The Safekeep” and German-born poet Aria Aber’s novel “Good Girl,” about a teenager exploring her dual German-Afghan heritage.

Also on the list are Iran-born writer Sanam Mahloudji’s intergenerational family saga “The Persians,” and “Fundamentally” by Britain's Nussaibah Younis, about an academic trying to rehabilitate women caught up with ISIS, The AP news reported.

Author Kit de Waal, who is chairing the panel of judges, said that the six books were “classics of the future” that explored “the importance of human connection.”

“What is surprising and refreshing is to see so much humor, nuance and lightness employed by these novelists to shed light on challenging concepts,” she said.

Previous winners of the fiction prize, founded in 1996, include Zadie Smith, Tayari Jones and Barbara Kingsolver.

Last year, award organizers launched a companion Women’s Prize for Nonfiction to help rectify an imbalance in publishing. In 2022, only 26.5% of nonfiction books reviewed in Britain’s newspapers were by women, and male writers dominated established nonfiction writing prizes.

Winners of both nonfiction and fiction prizes will be announced on June 12 at a ceremony in London.