{"id":547177,"date":"2026-09-22T07:21:32","date_gmt":"2026-09-21T21:21:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?p=1049126"},"modified":"2026-09-22T07:21:32","modified_gmt":"2026-09-21T21:21:32","slug":"nasa-welcomes-albania-as-newest-artemis-accords-signatory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=547177","title":{"rendered":"NASA Welcomes Albania as Newest Artemis Accords Signatory \u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"
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U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Space and Environment Connor Tomlinson, left, NASA Deputy Administrator Matt Anderson, Albania\u2019s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha, and Ambassador of the Republic of Albania to the United States Ervin Bushati, right, are seen at the conclusion of an Artemis Accords signing ceremony Monday, September 21, 2026, at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters building in Washington. <\/div>\n
NASA\/Bill Ingalls<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The Republic of Albania signed the Artemis Accords Monday during a ceremony hosted by NASA at the agency\u2019s headquarters in Washington, joining the coalition of like\u2011minded nations committed to the responsible and transparent exploration of space.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is my privilege to welcome the Republic of Albania as the 73rd signatory of the Artemis Accords,\u201d said NASA Deputy Administrator Matt Anderson. \u201cThe relationship between our nations goes back more than a century. Today, we extend that partnership into space.\u201d<\/p>\n

Albania\u2019s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha signed on behalf of the country. Ambassador of the Republic of Albania to the United States Ervin Bushati and the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Space and Environment Connor Tomlinson also participated in the event.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is a great honor for Albania to join the growing community of nations that have signed these important Artemis Accords,\u201d said Hoxha in remarks during the ceremony. \u201cBy taking this step, Albania affirms its commitment to peaceful, transparent, sustainable, and cooperative exploration of space. We do so as a country deeply committed to international law, multilateral cooperation, and the belief that humanity\u2019s greatest achievements are realized not in isolation, but through partnerships.\u201d<\/p>\n

Marking a significant step in Albania\u2019s efforts to strengthen its use of space\u2011based data, Albania launched two dedicated Earth\u2011observation satellites, Albania\u20111 and Albania\u20112, in January 2023 aboard a SpaceX Falcon\u00a09 rocket from NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, an example of how the United States is supporting Albania\u2019s capabilities in space.<\/p>\n

Albania also has played an active role in NASA\u2019s Space Apps Challenge, hosting local events that connected students, technologists, and innovators with NASA\u2019s openly available Earth and space science data. NASA Space Apps is the world\u2019s largest annual global hackathon, mobilizing participants in more than 150 countries to develop creative solutions to real-world challenges using open data from NASA and partner space agencies to advance exploration for the benefit of all.<\/p>\n

In 2020, NASA and the State Department joined with seven other founding nations to establish the Artemis Accords, responding to the growing interest in lunar activities by both governments and private companies. They introduced the first set of practical principles aimed at enhancing the safety and coordination between nations as they explore the Moon, Mars, and beyond, committing nations to: <\/p>\n