Latvia Signs Artemis Accords as 62nd Signatory
Summary
The Department of State announced that Latvia signed the Artemis Accords on April 20, 2026, becoming the 62nd country to join the international space exploration framework. Latvia's Minister of Education and Science Dace Melbārde signed the Accords at a ceremony at NASA Headquarters witnessed by Under Secretary Jacob Helberg and NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman. The Artemis Accords, established by the United States and seven other nations in 2020, set practical principles for peaceful and responsible space exploration.
What changed
Latvia officially joined the Artemis Accords as the 62nd signatory, with its Minister of Education and Science Dace Melbārde signing at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. The signing ceremony was witnessed by State Department Under Secretary for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg and NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman. The Artemis Accords, first established by the United States and seven other countries in 2020, provide a set of practical principles for peaceful exploration and sustainable use of outer space.
This announcement is primarily informational and ceremonial in nature. It does not create compliance obligations or regulatory requirements for private entities. Companies engaged in aerospace, satellite technology, or space-related industries may wish to note the continued expansion of the Artemis Accords as an indicator of evolving international norms for space activity, which could inform engagement strategies with partner nations and emerging spacefaring states.
Scheduled event
- Date
- 2026-04-20
- Location
- Washington, D.C.
Archived snapshot
Apr 21, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
Home Office of the Spokesperson Press Releases United States Welcomes Latvia’s Signing of the Artemis Accords
United States Welcomes Latvia’s Signing of the Artemis Accords
Media Note
April 20, 2026
The Department of State congratulates Latvia on joining the Artemis Accords. Latvia is the 62nd country to sign the Accords to date, pledging its commitment to peaceful exploration and use of space.
Latvia’s Minister of Education and Science Dace Melbārde signed the Accords on behalf of the Republic of Latvia on April 20, 2026. State Department Under Secretary for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg and NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman witnessed and celebrated the signing at a ceremony at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters. The United States and Latvia maintain strong science and technology partnerships, with research cooperation expanding under the 2024 bilateral Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement.
The United States and seven other countries established the Artemis Accords in 2020 to serve as a set of practical principles to guide responsible space exploration. Latvia joins the United States and 60 other nations in affirming the Accords’ principles for sustainable civil space activity. The Department of State and NASA lead the United States’ outreach and implementation of the Accords.
For more information, including a full list of signatories to the Accords, please visit the Artemis Accords webpage. For media inquiries, please submit a request.
Tags
Artemis Accords Bilateral Relations and Engagement Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs Latvia National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Office of Science and Technology Cooperation Office of the Spokesperson Science and Technology Space Under Secretary for Economic Affairs
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