Winter Satellite Workshop: Finland joins the signatories of Artemis Accords
The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment had a big role in the Finnish space sector event ‘Winter Satellite Workshop’ on 21–23 January 2025, which attracted 1,800 participants.
The programme of the opening day in Dipoli, Espoo included a space policy section hosted by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment. The most significant event during the day took place when Minister of Economic Affairs Wille Rydman signed the Artemis Accords launched in collaboration between the US Department of State and NASA, including activities conducted in support of NASA’s Artemis Program.
The signatories are politically committed to the principles of cooperation contained in the Accords as regards the civil exploration and use of the Moon, Mars, comets and asteroids for peaceful purposes. The Accords are based on the need to further specify the common rules as activities on celestial bodies keep increasing.
Signature of the Artemis Accords document - Minister of Economic Affairs Wille Rydman
“With the Artemis Accords, we will strengthen our partnership with the United States and other allies. Our aim is that the cooperation will open up opportunities for the Finnish space sector in the new era of space exploration and the Artemis Program,” Minister Rydman said.
Ministry joins Zero Debris Charter
As the second item for signature on the opening day, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment signed the Zero Debris Charter launched by the European Space Agency ESA, which aims to mitigate space debris. The document is open for signature by any organisation and, besides the Ministry, a number of other bodies took the opportunity to sign it on the same day.
The section on space policy included an introduction by Tero Vihavainen, Chief Specialist of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, on Finland’s Space Strategy 2030. In addition, a celebration publication Finland as a Member of ESA for 30 years, three decades of cooperation and success stories was published which, as the title indicates, is a collection of stories and memories from the time Finland has been a member. The day ended with a panel chaired by Maija Lönnqvist and composed of representatives of the European Commission, EU Agency for the Space Programme, ESA, NASA and European Space Policy Institute ESPI.
Space Leader panel led by Maija Lönnqvist (From left Maija Lönnqvist/MEAE, Reseach Fellow Tomas Hrozensky/ESPI, Director Laurent Jaffart/ESA, Director Antti Pulkkinen/NASA, Director Christoph Kautz/EU Commission, Director Rodrigo da Costa/EUSPA)