Hellenic Space Agency signs Joint Statement on collaboration with NASA

The Hellenic Space Agency (HSA) has signed a Joint Statement with NASA that notes the two agencies’ intention to explore the potential for bilateral collaboration in space and Earth science, on the sidelines of the World Space Symposium held in Colorado Springs, USA. The statement was signed on Monday by HSA CEO Dr Georgios Mantzouris and NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine, in the presence of the Minister of Digital Policy, Communications and Media Nikos Pappas, and HSA Chairman Christodoulos Protopapas.

According to the Greek side, the signing of this agreement will lead to “a new era in the exchange of knowledge under the protection of the cooperation environment of the official space agencies of the two countries,” as it is estimated that NASA and HSA will proceed with the “joint launch of potential collaboration” in space.

Indeed, with regard to our country’s participation in the NASA programme, the agreement foresees that HSA will carry out the first Greek project on the Moon by sending up a robotic lunar vehicle, which is expected to take place in 2022. The target of this programme is to explore the soil of the Moon for the acquisition of data that will belong to the Greek State and will be exploited by the Greek Universities and research programmes.