Four more countries sign NASA’s Artemis Accords, taking total to 76

Albania, Croatia, Côte d’Ivoire and San Marino have joined the Artemis Accords, lifting total signatories to 76.

NASA has welcomed four new Artemis Accords signatories; Albania, Croatia, Côte d’Ivoire and San Marino, bringing total participation to 76 countries, Washington Times reports.

“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. Nearly 40% of the world’s nations are collaborating with NASA on an approach to space exploration intended to be transparent, peaceful, responsible and safe, the agency said. Nearly two-thirds of the countries that signed the 1967 Outer Space Treaty have signed the Artemis Accords.

This year’s Artemis Accords Principals’ Meeting will begin Monday, Oct. 5, in Antalya, Türkiye. NASA Deputy Administrator Matt Anderson and Maj. Roberto Melgar Sheen, director of the Peruvian Space Agency, will co-chair the meeting, which will examine ways to support emerging space nations and disseminate lunar debris-mitigation recommendations. The United States launched the accords with seven others in 2020.