San Marino signs Artemis Accords, joining space cooperation framework

San Marino signed the Artemis Accords in Rimini on September 25, 2026, joining an international framework for peaceful and responsible space exploration. NASA identifies the republic as the 76th signatory. The agreement sets out non-binding principles for cooperation as countries pursue activities on the Moon, Mars and beyond.

Rossano Fabbri, San Marino’s minister of industry and technological research, signed on the country’s behalf. NASA’s Europe representative Gregory Mann and U.S. Consul General in Florence Joseph Tordella attended. AstroSpace also reported the signing and the 76th-signatory figure, placing the ceremony at the Beyond Exploration Expo.

What signing means

NASA describes the Accords as non-binding principles. The original document expresses a political commitment and helps implement existing space-law obligations. For San Marino, joining establishes a framework for future cooperation; it does not replace those existing obligations or itself establish a specific exploration project.

NASA and the U.S. State Department established the Accords with seven other founding nations in 2020, responding to growing government and commercial interest in lunar activities. NASA’s announcement of San Marino’s accession highlights peaceful exploration, transparency, assistance to those in need, access to scientific data and protection of historically significant sites and artifacts.

Coordination as activity grows

The Accords call for notification and coordination to prevent harmful interference between activities. Their provisions for temporary safety zones require respect for free access. On space resources, the signatories take the position that extraction does not inherently constitute national appropriation, while requiring compliance with the Outer Space Treaty.

Cooperation under the framework also includes discussions about putting its principles into practice. NASA reported that representatives from 30 countries participated in a May 21–22, 2025, workshop in Abu Dhabi. Discussions and a tabletop exercise examined challenges of operating in a complex environment, with participants reaffirming work on safe and sustainable exploration.

Opportunities still need concrete agreements

In its September 25 announcement, NASA said every signatory had been invited to contribute to its return to the Moon through scientific payloads, technology demonstrations, CubeSats and other capabilities. Those are possible avenues for participation. The announcement specified no awarded mission, funding commitment or astronaut seat for San Marino.

The original Accords provide for separate arrangements to define cooperative activities and address matters including liability, intellectual property and technical transfers. San Marino’s signing therefore establishes principles for potential partnerships, while the details of any particular contribution still need concrete arrangements. NASA’s announcement leaves the scope and timing of such participation unspecified.