Greece is one step closer to exploring the moon, following the signing of an historic agreement with NASA on Monday.

The Joint Declaration of Cooperation was signed by representatives of the Hellenic Space Organisation (ELDO) and NASA on the first day of the 35th Space Symposium in Colorado by signatories ELDO CEO Georgios Mantzouris and NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine. Also present, were Greek Minister for Digital Policy Nikos Pappas and ELDO Chairman Christodoulos Protopappas.

“… when we go to the moon, we will go with a coalition of international partners. And we are excited that the Hellenic Space Agency, which has now completed one year of operation, will be with us this time we return to the moon,” declared Mr Bridenstine.

As part of the agreement, Greece will take part in the Lunar Orbital Platform—Gateway (LOP-G) and exchange information and data for academic and scientific research. Greek educational institutions will also have the chance to participate in international programs, among other benefits.

Meanwhile, ELDO has its sights on landing its own robotic lunar vehicle to carry out its own exploration and experiments.

Mr Pappas stressed the historic significance.

“One year after the establishment of Hellenic Space Organisation, Greece will go to the moon. It will be in the small group of countries in the history of humanity who have sent their own vehicle to the moon,” he said.

“The Greek research community does not have to envy any of the research communities in other countries and I think we have a section that will give a new breath to both the research and the international displacement of Greece.”

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Με τη συμφωνία ΕΛΔΟ-NASA για την αποστολή “H Ελλάδα στη Σελήνη”, η χώρα μας μπαίνει στην κατηγορία των ελάχιστων χωρών, οι οποίες θα έχουν πατήσει στο έδαφος της Σελήνης με δικό τους όχημα. Η χώρα αναβαθμίζεται και μπαίνει στην πρωτοπορία της παγκόσμιας έρευνας. pic.twitter.com/wQmy4Xn42U

— Νίκος Παππάς (@nikospappas16) April 8, 2019

ELDO CEO Mr Mantzouris shared the sentiment, stating that the benefits of the mission will be immense for society, science, the economy, and in particular for young people.

“That’s why we urge young people to join the Hellenic Space Organisation and we all come to realise this co-operative agreement that we just signed up to,” he said.

“As CEO of ELDO, I am pleased to announce that we will shortly be in the process of completing the staffing of the organisation, and with all our efforts we will serve the strategic goals that the state has set for the period until 2040 and who knows….”

Διοικητής NASA Jim Bridenstine σε @ERTsocial “οι ΗΠΑ επιστρέφουν στο φεγγάρι για να μεινουν/αυτή τη φορά πάμε με έναν συνασπισμό διεθνών εταίρων/είμαστε ενθουσιασμένοι που ΕΛΔΟ έχοντας συμπληρώσει έναν χρόνο λειτουργίας θα είναι μαζί μας στη Σελήνη @nikospappas16 #SpaceSymposium pic.twitter.com/PIALpwtilN

— Lena Argiri (@lenaargiri) April 8, 2019

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