On April 29, 2026, in the capital city of Rabat, the Kingdom of Morocco formally acceded to the Artemis Accords, marking its entry as the 64th nation to join this international framework.
The signing ceremony was attended by Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Bourita, who affixed his signature on behalf of the country. This act underscored Morocco’s commitment to shared values in scientific, technological, and diplomatic endeavors.
Also present at the event were U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau and U.S. Ambassador to Morocco, Duke Buchan III, as part of an official visit to the North African nation. In a recorded message, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman welcomed Morocco’s accession, emphasizing that the Artemis Accords have become a global platform for space cooperation.
The Artemis Accords
Launched in 2020 by NASA and the U.S. Department of State, alongside an initial group of eight nations including Italy, the Artemis Accords were established to address the growing interest in lunar activities from both governmental and private sectors. These Accords outline a set of practical principles designed to enhance safety, transparency, and coordination among nations involved in the exploration of the Moon, Mars, and deep space.
Signing the Accords signifies a commitment to conducting space activities peacefully and transparently, providing necessary assistance, ensuring access to scientific data, avoiding harmful interference between missions, and protecting sites and artifacts of historical significance. The overarching goal is to develop shared best practices for sustainable exploration that benefits all of humanity.
Morocco’s adherence further confirms the continuous expansion of the Artemis Accords’ international network, which has seen a growing number of signatories in recent months. Latvia joined on April 20, followed by Jordan on April 23.
In line with a strategy to engage an increasing number of countries, NASA and its partners are advancing their efforts to establish a sustained human presence on the Moon. Recently, during an event in Washington on March 24, the Agency unveiled a revised plan for the Artemis program, which now targets the construction of a permanent lunar base by the end of the decade.
