Albania to Become 73rd Artemis Accords Signatory in Washington Ceremony

The Republic of Albania will sign the Artemis Accords during a ceremony at NASA Headquarters in Washington at 12 p.m. EDT on Monday, September 21, becoming the 73rd country to join the framework. The signing continues the steady expansion of the accords, which set out principles for civil space exploration.

NASA Deputy Administrator Matt Anderson will host the event, welcoming Albania's Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha and Ambassador of the Republic of Albania to the United States Ervin Bushati. Officials from the U.S. Department of State will also attend.

The Artemis Accords were established in 2020, during the first Trump Administration, when the United States, led by NASA and the State Department, joined with seven other founding nations. The framework was created in response to growing interest in lunar activities by both governments and private companies. It introduced the first set of practical principles aimed at enhancing the safety, transparency, and coordination of civil space exploration on the Moon, Mars, and beyond.

The ceremony is in person only. Media interested in attending must RSVP no later than 10 a.m. on September 21 to hq-media@mail.nasa.gov. NASA's media accreditation policy is available online.

Albania's addition brings the total number of signatories to 73, a figure NASA presents as a measure of the accords' expanding reach. Each new signature reinforces the framework of norms for lunar and deep-space activity.

The signing takes place Monday at 12 p.m. EDT at NASA Headquarters. Media planning to attend must confirm attendance by the 10 a.m. deadline that day.