Albania Joins Artemis Accords as 73rd Nation in NASA Ceremony
Albania signed the Artemis Accords at a NASA ceremony in Washington, becoming the 73rd signatory.
NASA hosted a signing ceremony in Washington where the Republic of Albania became the 73rd nation to adopt the Artemis Accords, a framework promoting responsible space exploration. Albania’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha signed on behalf of the country, accompanied by Ambassador Ervin Bushati and U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary for Space and Environment Connor Tomlinson. NASA Deputy Administrator Matt Anderson highlighted the historic ties between the United States and Albania, now extending into space cooperation.
Albania recently launched two Earth-observation satellites, Albania-1 and Albania-2, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 from Kennedy Space Center, and has actively participated in NASA’s Space Apps Challenge. The Accords outline commitments to peaceful exploration, data sharing, assistance, and preservation of heritage sites on the Moon and beyond. By joining, Albania positions itself for future lunar missions and deeper integration into the international space community.
Why it matters
Albania’s accession expands the coalition shaping responsible lunar exploration and strengthens its own space program.
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