Plate Nº 45 · recorded October 10, 2026
Space & AstronomyReported finding
Artemis Accords Reach 76 Nations as Four More Countries Sign
NASA's Artemis Accords have reached 76 signatory countries after Albania, Croatia, Côte d'Ivoire and San Marino joined the framework for peaceful space exploration.
By Nathan Brooks3 min read672 words
In brief
- The Artemis Accords now have 76 signatory countries, as of Sept. 28, 2026.
- Albania, Croatia, Côte d'Ivoire and San Marino are the four newest signatories.
- Nearly one-third of signatories joined since the start of President Trump's second term.
- The accords were launched in 2020 by the U.S. and seven other nations.
- The next Principals' Meeting begins Oct. 5 at the IAC in Antalya, Türkiye.
The Artemis Accords now count 76 signatory countries, after Albania, Croatia, Côte d'Ivoire and San Marino joined the NASA-led framework for cooperation in space exploration.
The four new members, announced Sept. 28, 2026, push total participation past the 75-country milestone and mark one of the fastest expansions of international cooperation in the history of civil space activity. Nearly 40% of the world's nations now work with NASA under the accords.
"Our momentum reflects a growing commitment to peaceful, responsible exploration and a shared understanding that the future in space will be shaped by those willing to lead," NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said.
What are the Artemis Accords?
The United States, led by NASA and the U.S. Department of State, launched the accords in 2020 together with seven other nations. The goal was to set the first practical set of principles for coordinating lunar activity as global interest in the Moon grew.
The accords are non-binding political commitments rather than a treaty. In plain terms, they are a shared rulebook for how countries should behave while exploring the Moon, Mars and beyond. Signatories commit to:
- Exploring space peaceably and transparently
- Rendering aid to those in need
- Enabling access to scientific data
- Ensuring their activities do not interfere with others
- Preserving historically significant sites and artifacts, such as old landing sites, by developing best practices
How fast is the coalition growing?
Very fast, by diplomatic standards. Nearly one-third of all current signatories have joined since the start of President Trump's second term, according to Isaacman's statement.
The coalition also overlaps heavily with the legal foundation of space activity. Nearly two-thirds of the countries that signed the 1967 Outer Space Treaty — the cornerstone international agreement governing outer space — have now also signed the Artemis Accords.
"As the President directs NASA to return Americans to the lunar surface and lay the groundwork for Mars, we are strengthening a coalition of partners who share our values and are ready to help shape the future of exploration," Isaacman said.
How do the signatories actually work together?
What began as an informal group of a small number of countries has grown into a structured community. In 2024, the signatories adopted a formal framework called the Signatories Group Method of Operations.
Under this framework, the group meets twice a year:
- Once at a technical workshop
- Once at a Principals' Meeting held during the International Astronautical Congress (IAC)
Virtual sessions run throughout the year to support implementation. Through this process, participating countries have advanced agreed recommendations on noninterference, interoperability (making equipment and systems from different countries work together), scientific data sharing, and the registration of space objects.
Two major workshops this year strengthened that technical alignment further. Signatories reviewed their planned lunar landings and orbital missions and took part in hands-on sessions focused on open science — the practice of making research data freely available. Experts from dozens of countries worked through real-world examples of making mission information easier to find, use and share, from releasing lunar science data to adopting common standards that reduce interference between missions.
What happens next?
The next Principals' Meeting begins Monday, Oct. 5, at the IAC in Antalya, Türkiye. NASA Deputy Administrator Matt Anderson and Major General Roberto Melgar Sheen, director of the Peruvian Space Agency (CONIDA), will co-chair it.
The agenda includes ways to support emerging space nations and to spread lunar debris-mitigation recommendations — guidance on reducing the junk left behind by lunar missions.
How do the accords connect to real missions?
NASA says it is putting the accords' principles into practice through the creation of the Moon Base. The agency has invited every signatory country to take part in the return to the Moon through scientific payloads, technology demonstrations, CubeSats (small, box-shaped satellites) and other capabilities.
NASA expects more nations to join the accords in the months and years ahead as it works with partners worldwide toward what it describes as a safe, peaceful and prosperous future in space.
via x.com (Original)
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