NASA Welcomes San Marino Signing the Artemis Accords

The Republic of San Marino became the 76th signatory to the Artemis Accords during a ceremony held Friday in the city of Rimini, with officials from NASA and the U.S. Department of State in attendance. Minister of Industry and Technological Research Rossano Fabbri signed on behalf of San Marino, and NASA Europe representative Gregory Mann took part alongside U.S. Consul General in Florence Joseph Tordella.

NASA Deputy Administrator Matt Anderson welcomed the addition, saying San Marino "joins a growing coalition of like-minded nations committed to the peaceful, transparent, and responsible exploration of space." He noted that President Trump has directed NASA to build a Moon Base and establish an enduring presence on the lunar surface, and that the agency is putting the Accords' principles into practice. Anderson added that NASA has invited every Accords signatory to participate in the return to the Moon through scientific payloads, technology demonstrations, CubeSats, and other capabilities, and said San Marino is already looking toward that future.

Fabbri said San Marino was "pleased and honored" to be welcomed as the 76th signatory state, adding that the country fully shares the principles and values expressed in the Accords and is convinced the signatory states united under them will make a tangible contribution to international cooperation in space and to ensuring space is used for peaceful purposes.

NASA and the State Department joined with seven other founding nations in 2020 to establish the Accords, responding to growing interest in lunar activities from both governments and private companies. The agreement introduced the first set of practical principles aimed at enhancing safety and coordination among nations exploring the Moon, Mars, and beyond, committing signatories to explore peaceably and transparently, render aid to those in need, enable access to scientific data, ensure activities do not interfere with those of others, and preserve historically significant sites and artifacts by developing best practices. By signing, nations open the door to future lunar exploration opportunities with NASA, advancing humanity's return to the Moon.