On May 4, 2026, Malta and Ireland officially acceded to the Artemis Accords, increasing the total number of signatory countries to 66.
In the town of Kalkara, the Republic of Malta became the 65th nation to sign the Artemis Accords during an official ceremony attended by representatives from NASA and the U.S. Department of State.
The signing was conducted by Clifton Grima, the Minister for Education, Youth, Sport, Research, and Innovation, who emphasized that this accession represents a strategic step for the country. The incorporation into the Accords strengthens Malta’s national regulatory framework, enhances its international credibility, and opens up new opportunities within the space economy sector.
In a recorded message, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson welcomed Malta’s entry. The ceremony was also attended by U.S. Ambassador to Malta, Somers W. Farkas, NASA European representative Gregory Mann, and Maltese Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ian Borg.
The Latest ESA State in the Accords
On the same day, Ireland also joined the Artemis Accords during a ceremony hosted at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C., becoming the 66th signatory nation. Ireland, a long-standing member of the European Space Agency (ESA) and an established partner of NASA, now joins all 23 ESA member states already part of the initiative.
The Accords were signed on behalf of Ireland by the Minister for Enterprise, Trade, and Employment, Peter Burke, who highlighted the symbolic and cultural significance of this decision. A nation historically oriented towards exploration and global connections now brings that same spirit to the new frontier of space.
The ceremony was also attended by the Irish Ambassador to the United States, Geraldine Byrne Nason, and representatives from the U.S. Department of State, along with other institutional figures.
More Countries United for Artemis
The Artemis Accords, initiated in 2020 during the first Trump administration by NASA and the U.S. Department of State alongside an initial group of eight nations, including Italy, were established to address the growing global interest in lunar and deep space exploration. These Accords define shared principles to ensure safety, transparency, and cooperation among participating countries.
The accession of Malta and Ireland confirms the continuous expansion of the Artemis Accords’ international network, which continues to attract new countries interested in contributing to the development of sustainable and shared space exploration. In the preceding week, Latvia joined on April 20th, Jordan on April 23rd, and Morocco on April 29th.
Meanwhile, NASA and its partners are continuing their work to build a durable human presence on the Moon. During an event on March 24th in Washington, the Agency significantly modified the Artemis program, pausing the Lunar Gateway space station and announcing its aim to construct a permanent lunar base by the end of the decade.
