On Monday, the United States and Saudi Arabia signed an agreement to foster cooperation between the two nations’ space programs in their study of Earth and beyond.

The “Framework Agreement Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Cooperation in Aeronautics and the Exploration and Use of Airspace and Outer Space for Peaceful Purposes” acts as a legal road map to further promote international space collaboration. 

“I look forward to strengthening our cooperation for the future of exploration,” NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, who signed the agreement on behalf of the U.S., said. Mohammad bin Saud al Tamimi, CEO of the Saudi Space Agency, signed for Saudi Arabia. 

“We are living in the golden era of exploration, one that is rooted in partnership,” Nelson said. “This new agreement outlines how we’ll work together, and explore together, for the benefit of humanity.”

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In July 2022, Saudi Arabia became a signatory of the Artemis Accords, a NASA-led lunar program aimed at preparing for manned Mars missions by studying life beyond Earth. This new agreement recognizes the importance of the Artemis Accords, highlighting the need for “transparent, safe and responsible” space programs.

The arrangement arrived just two months after Nelson visited Saudi Arabia to reinforce a relationship with the Middle Eastern nation. Prior to the trip, NASA worked closely with SpaceX and the Saudi Space Agency during its Axiom Mission 2 program, in which two Saudi mission specialists joined a team of private astronauts on a voyage to the International Space Station via a SpaceX Dragon capsule.