Albania Joins Artemis Accords as 73rd Signatory

• Albania has officially become the 73rd signatory of the Artemis Accords, committing to peaceful, transparent, and collaborative space exploration.
• The signing ceremony took place at NASA Headquarters in Washington, with Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha signing on behalf of the nation.

Space Cooperation History

• Albania previously demonstrated its commitment to space-based data capabilities by launching two Earth-observation satellites, Albania-1 and Albania-2, via a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in January 2023.
• The country has also actively participated in the NASA Space Apps Challenge, hosting local events to connect students and technologists with NASA’s open-source Earth and science data.

Core Principles of the Artemis Accords

• Established in 2020 by the U.S. and seven founding nations, the Accords provide a framework for safe and coordinated space exploration on the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
• Key obligations for signatories include:
  • Exploring space peaceably and transparently.
  • Providing aid to those in need during missions.
  • Enabling open access to scientific data.
  • Ensuring activities do not interfere with other nations' space operations.
  • Developing best practices to preserve historically significant sites and artifacts.