Latvia officially signed the Artemis Accords on Monday during a ceremony held at NASA Headquarters in Washington, becoming the 62nd nation to join the international framework for responsible space exploration.
The agreement was signed by Latvia’s Minister for Education and Science, Dace Melbārde, in the presence of NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, U.S. Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg, and Latvian chargé d’affaires Jānis Beķeris.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman welcomed Latvia’s participation, saying the growing number of signatories strengthens global cooperation for peaceful and transparent exploration of space, particularly future missions to the Moon.
Minister Melbārde said Latvia’s decision reflects a commitment to international collaboration in space, as well as support for the development of students, researchers, and innovators in the field.
She also noted that Latvia already contributes to the global space sector and looks forward to deepening cooperation with the United States and NASA under the Artemis framework.
The Artemis Accords, established in 2020 by NASA and the U.S. Department of State with several founding nations, set out principles for safe, peaceful, and cooperative space exploration.
These principles include transparency, sharing scientific data, assisting astronauts in need, and preserving important historical sites in space.
With more than 40 countries participating in recent discussions, further nations are expected to join in the coming years as global interest in lunar and deep space exploration continues to grow.
Learn more about the Artemis Accords at:
