Lithuania Joins Artemis Accords, Becoming 40th Nation to Join Next Space Exploration Era

In a significant milestone for international space collaboration, Lithuania has become the 40th nation to sign the Artemis Accords, the NASA led international coalition in pursuit of safer and more transparent space exploration

The ceremonial signing took place at the Radisson Blu Lietuva hotel in Vilnius, Lithuania on Wednesday, marking a pivotal moment in the global effort to foster responsible and peaceful space activities.

“Welcome to the Artemis Accords family, Lithuania... “Our nations are strong partners – and now we expand this partnership to the cosmos. In just four years, a remarkable 40 countries have signed the Artemis Accords. Together, as a global coalition, we will explore the stars openly, responsibly, and in peace.” - Bill Nelson, NASA Administrator

The event saw attendance from prominent officials including United States Ambassador Kara C. McDonald, who spoke on behalf of the U.S., and Aušrinė Armonaitė, Lithuanian Minister of Economy and Innovation, who signed the Accords.

“The Lithuanian space sector has been growing steadily, with our innovative companies working in this field making significant strides...The Artemis Accords mark a new chapter and chart a course for future space exploration, underscoring our commitment to a responsible, sustainable, and cooperative presence in space.” - Aušrinė Armonaitė, Lithuanian Minister of Economy and Innovation

“Today is a pivotal day for Lithuania...We are living in the golden age of space. The days of one nation exploring the cosmos alone are gone. Today, we go together, and we go with international partners.” - NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy

The Artemis Accords, integral to NASA’s Artemis campaign, aim to facilitate the return of astronauts to the Moon, including the first woman, the first person of color, and the first international partner astronaut. These missions focus on scientific discovery, economic benefits, and establishing a foundation for future crewed missions to Mars.

Established in 2020 by NASA, the U.S. Department of State, and seven other nations, the Artemis Accords lay out principles based on the Outer Space Treaty of 1967 and related space treaties.

With Lithuania’s commitment, the Accords now have a robust coalition of 40 nations dedicated to ensuring a long-term and peaceful presence in space for the benefit of humanity.