Malta Signs Artemis Accords as 65th Signatory — Ceremony in Kalkara

Malta signed the Artemis Accords during a formal ceremony in Kalkara, Malta, in early May 2026, becoming the 65th nation to join the international framework for responsible, peaceful space exploration. NASA and U.S. State Department officials participated in the signing ceremony. Malta's accession preceded Ireland's May 4 signing (66th signatory), part of a wave of new participants energized by the successful Artemis II crewed lunar flyby (April 1–10, 2026). The rapid addition of new signatories — Morocco (64th, April 29), Malta (65th), and Ireland (66th, May 4) — within a two-week window reflects the international diplomatic momentum generated by Artemis II, the first crewed mission beyond low Earth orbit in more than 50 years. The Artemis Accords, first established in October 2020, now encompass 66 nations committed to the norms of peaceful, transparent, and interoperable space exploration. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman has cited the growing Accords participation as evidence of U.S. leadership in defining the rules for the next era of space exploration.