Space Friends! Albania Joins 72 Other Countries in a Big Space Promise
Quick Summary
Albania signed the Artemis Accords at NASA’s headquarters in Washington, D.C. today. That makes Albania the 73rd country to join this big teamwork agreement about space. The accords say that countries will explore the Moon, Mars, and beyond in a peaceful, honest, and cooperative way.
What Happened?
Imagine 73 countries around the world agreeing to play by the same rules — but the rules are for outer space! That is exactly what the Artemis Accords do.
Today at noon, Albanian leaders traveled to NASA headquarters and signed their name to the accords. NASA Deputy Administrator Matt Anderson hosted the ceremony alongside Albania’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ferit Hoxha, and Albania’s ambassador to the United States, Ervin Bushati.
The Artemis Accords started in 2020. The United States and seven other countries — Australia, Canada, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom — created the agreement together. Since then, country after country has joined, and the list keeps growing.
Albania is a small country in southeastern Europe, about the size of the state of Maryland. It already has some experience with satellites. Back in 2023, two small Earth-watching satellites called Albania-1 and Albania-2 launched into orbit on a SpaceX rocket. They help Albania monitor its land from space.
Why Does It Matter?
Space is for everyone. The Artemis Accords are like a set of class rules — but for the whole planet.
The rules cover important things. Countries promise to be transparent, or honest, about what they are doing in space. They agree to help astronauts in distress, no matter which country those astronauts come from. They also agree to share scientific discoveries, protect historic sites in space, and avoid creating harmful space junk.
The more countries that sign, the stronger and safer space exploration becomes. With 73 signatories, the accords now include nations from every corner of the globe. That is a bigger team than most professional sports leagues — and they are all working toward the same goal: exploring the universe together.
Big Words
- Artemis Accords — a set of international agreements about how countries should behave while exploring space peacefully
- Signatory — a country or person who has officially signed an agreement
- Transparent — being open and honest so others can see what you are doing
- Satellite — a spacecraft that orbits Earth or another planet, often used to take pictures or send signals
- Ambassador — a person chosen by one country to officially represent it in another country
Fun Fact
Albania’s two Earth-observation satellites, Albania-1 and Albania-2, help the country spot things like illegal logging and construction from hundreds of miles up in space — like having superhero eyes that can see through clouds!
Think About It
If you could write one new rule for how countries should behave in space, what would it be — and why?
Sources
- NASA — NASA Invites Media to Albania Artemis Accords Signing Ceremony
- Exit.al — Albania to become 73rd country to sign Artemis Accords
- Space Policy Online — Albania Signs the Artemis Accords, Sept 21, 2026
- Srpske Novine — Albania Joins Artemis Accords, Serbia Still Waits