Latvia becomes 62nd signatory to Artemis Accords in Washington
Date: 2026-04-21
By: Nana Appiah Acquaye
Latvia
has joined the Artemis Accords as its 62nd signatory, marking a further
expansion of global collaboration on responsible space exploration.
The
agreement was signed on April 20, 2026, by Latvia’s Minister of Education and
Science, Dace Melbārde, at the headquarters of the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration in Washington, D.C. The signing ceremony was witnessed by
U.S. Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg and NASA
Administrator Jared Isaacman.
The
Artemis Accords, launched in 2020 by the United States and seven partner
countries, establish a framework for international cooperation in civil space
exploration. The initiative has steadily expanded, reflecting growing global
interest in shared principles for the peaceful and sustainable use of outer
space.
U.S.
officials highlighted that Latvia’s accession builds on more than three decades
of bilateral cooperation in science and technology, with both countries
leveraging research and innovation to support economic growth.
The
addition of Latvia is expected to strengthen international partnerships in the
evolving space economy, as countries work to advance commercial space
activities and deepen collaboration in what stakeholders describe as a new
phase of global space development.
