San Marino becomes the 76th nation to sign the Artemis Accords, joining NASA and international partners in a commitment to peaceful space exploration.

The Republic of San Marino became the 76th country to sign the Artemis Accords on Friday during an official ceremony in the city of Rimini.

Officials from NASA and the U.S. Department of State attended the signing alongside representatives from San Marino to formalize the agreement. The diplomatic step brings San Marino into an expanding international coalition focused on civil space activity.

"San Marino joins a growing coalition of like-minded nations committed to the peaceful, transparent, and responsible exploration of space," NASA Deputy Administrator said during the ceremony.

International Framework for Space Exploration

Established in 2020 by NASA and the U.S. Department of State, the Artemis Accords establish practical principles to guide civil space exploration. The accords are grounded in the 1967 Outer Space Treaty and aim to facilitate safe, sustainable space operations as human activity extends further into the solar system.

The agreement covers civil space missions targeting the Moon, Mars, and outer space operations. Participating states agree to conduct operations with full transparency and in compliance with international law.

Key Principles of the Accords

• Public release of scientific data collected during civil space operations
• Commitment to render emergency assistance to personnel in space
• Interoperability of space systems and technical standards to enhance safety
• Mitigation of orbital debris and responsible disposal of space hardware
• Protection of historic sites and human artifacts in space

Expanding Global Participation

San Marino's signing reflects continued European endorsement of the framework. The addition of new member nations aims to build international consensus on space traffic management, resource utilization, and dispute avoidance prior to upcoming lunar landing missions under the Artemis program.