Morocco signed the Artemis Accords on May 2, 2026, becoming the 45th nation to join the U.S.-led framework for peaceful and cooperative space exploration, according to an official NASA announcement.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman welcomed Morocco's accession, stating that the country joins at a critical moment as the Artemis program prepares for crewed lunar missions. The signing took place during a ceremony at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C.
The Artemis Accords, established in 2020, outline principles for responsible space exploration, including transparency, interoperability, and the use of outer space for peaceful purposes. Morocco is the third African nation to sign, after Rwanda and Nigeria.
Morocco's space agency, the Royal Centre for Remote Sensing (CRTS), has been active in satellite technology and Earth observation. The country launched its first satellite, Mohammed VI-A, in 2017 for mapping and land use monitoring.
