NASA says the Artemis Accords—the set of principles intended to guide civil space exploration—has expanded to 76 participating countries after the addition of Albania, Croatia, Côte d’Ivoire, and San Marino.
In a release dated Sept. 28, 2026 (Release 26-078), NASA said the new signatories bring total participation above 75. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman linked the growth to U.S. policy priorities for returning astronauts to the Moon and preparing for future Mars missions.
The Artemis Accords were launched in 2020 by the United States, led by NASA and the U.S. Department of State, alongside seven other nations. NASA positions the accords as a practical framework aimed at improving safety and coordination as more countries and organisations plan missions to the Moon and beyond.
NASA said the signatory group has operated under a “Signatories Group Method of Operations,” adopted in 2024, meeting twice each year—once at a technical workshop and once at a Principals’ Meeting held during the International Astronautical Congress (IAC). The agency said additional virtual sessions are held throughout the year to support implementation.
According to NASA, participating countries have advanced recommendations on noninterference, interoperability, scientific data sharing, and registration practices—areas that can affect how missions operate in proximity and how information is shared across borders.
NASA said the next Artemis Accords Principals’ Meeting will take place at IAC in Antalya, Türkiye, starting Monday, Oct. 5, and will be co-chaired by NASA Deputy Administrator Matt Anderson and Major General Roberto Melgar Sheen, director of the Peruvian Space Agency (CONIDA). NASA said the meeting will examine support for emerging space nations and the dissemination of lunar debris-mitigation recommendations.
The agency also said it has invited Artemis Accords signatories to participate in its return to the Moon through scientific payloads, technology demonstrations, CubeSats, and other capabilities.
The Artemis Accords include commitments to explore peacefully and transparently, render aid to those in need, enable access to scientific data, avoid interference with others’ activities, and preserve historically significant sites and artifacts through best practices.
NASA said more nations are expected to join in coming months and years. More information is available at https://www.nasa.gov/artemis-accords.