The Manx government has signed up to an international agreement to return humans to the Moon.

The Artemis Accords, intended to further space exploration, is an international agreement between governments participating in the Artemis Program, an American-led effort to return humans to the Moon by 2024.

The government sees the Artemis Accords as an example of ’international best practice’ that will further bolster the growing space industry in the island.

The government believes signing up to the accords has the potential to attract new companies to the island with the investment, employment and opportunities that it brings.

Plus, there are increased opportunities for the contractors and companies working in the Artemis Program.

According to the government, this ’natural next step’ reaffirms the island’s commitment to the space industry, which continues to play ’an important part’ in the economy.

’Many in the island work in the space industry supporting its success around the world and the strength of this industry in the Isle of Man continues to grow.’

ManSat, a commercial provider of satellite spectrum access, has welcomed the support for the project and said Manx companies are ready to be at the forefront of the space sector.

Chief executive officer of ManSat, Katherine Gizinski, said: ’The Artemis Accords provide an unrivaled opportunity for the island to reaffirm its commitment to global governance and best practice in one of the world’s fastest growing industries: space.

’From the Apollo missions through to Mars exploration and today’s $174 billion return to the Moon, Manx companies are poised to be at the forefront of this growing industry sector.’

It is a ’proactive measure in support of existing Manx companies actively involved in the return to the Moon’.

The island has a history of involvement with space exploration, such as optics for missions to Mars, high precision parts for the International Space Station, and island satellite companies working to provide broadband around the world.

At the core of the Artemis Accords is the requirement that all activities will be conducted for peaceful purposes in line with the provisions of the Outer Space Treaty, which already applies to the Isle of Man.

The programme is led by NASA and is a reaffirmation of the 1967 UN Outer Space Treaty, to which the UK and the Isle of Man are already signatories.