WASHINGTON, Dec. 15 (UPI) -- The U.S. space agency and Saudi Arabia say they've signed a joint agreement calling for collaboration in lunar and asteroid science research.
The agreement between NASA and Saudi Arabia's King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology recognizes the Saudi Lunar and Near-Earth Object Science Center as an affiliate partner with the NASA Lunar Science Institute at NASA's Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Calif.
"This collaboration is within the scope of the Memorandum of Understanding on Science and Technology signed between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States of America last year and later ratified by the Council of Ministers," said Turki Bin Saud Bin Mohammed Al-Saud, vice president for research institutes at the Saudi science and technology facility.
"The international interest in lunar science and, more recently, near Earth objects led to the establishment of the Saudi Lunar and Near Earth Object Science Center as a focal point for lunar science and NEO studies in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," he added. "Furthermore, we are looking forward to our expanding collaboration with NASA for the benefit of both countries."
