San Marino becomes the 76th signatory to the Artemis Accords

The Republic of San Marino became the 76th signatory to the Artemis Accords at a ceremony in Rimini, Italy, on Friday, September 25, 2026. NASA published the news that day and said officials from the agency and the U.S. Department of State were present. The information provided does not identify the attendees or specify who signed on behalf of San Marino.

NASA described the signing as part of an expanding international coalition. “San Marino joins a growing coalition of like-minded nations committed to the peaceful, transparent, and responsible exploration of space,” NASA’s deputy administrator said, according to the announcement. The statement conveys the agency’s assessment; by itself, it does not establish what specific actions each country will take or when.

What was announced, and when

The new development is San Marino’s signature and its entry as the 76th signatory. NASA gives the date as September 25, 2026, and says the ceremony took place in Rimini. Although Rimini is in Italy and hosted the event, the announcement identifies the Republic of San Marino as the country that joined. The ceremony’s location should not be confused with the signatory state.

The report comes from a NASA announcement published on September 25, 2026. It is an institutional communication from the U.S. agency and reports NASA’s account of the signing. The material provided does not include an independent statement from San Marino’s government or additional documentation of the ceremony. It also gives no details about the domestic process that preceded the signature.

What are the Artemis Accords?

The Artemis Accords are an international cooperation framework related to space exploration. In the available information, their principles are described in terms of commitments to peaceful, transparent and responsible exploration. Another NASA description of the accords also refers to rendering aid to those in need and enabling access. These points help explain the kind of cooperation the framework promotes, but they are not a comprehensive summary of its provisions.

The accords’ name connects the framework with Artemis, but the information supplied here does not detail specific missions, schedules, technical goals or operations on the Moon or elsewhere. San Marino’s signature should therefore be understood as joining the accords’ principles, not as proof that the country will take part in a particular mission. No information is provided about resources, projects or national programs associated with the signing.

What signing means

NASA presents the signature as a commitment to cooperation and to peaceful, transparent and responsible conduct in space exploration. The available general description of the accords also refers to providing aid and enabling access. Together, these principles outline shared expectations among countries; they are not a report of outcomes already achieved by San Marino.

The announcement does not explain the specific mechanisms for putting those principles into practice, how compliance is assessed, or what precise legal obligations follow from signing. Without those details, it is not possible to say what operational or legal changes the accession will bring for the country. Nor does the information say that signing amounts to an announcement of a national space mission or a commitment of a particular date or budget.

The international context and the limits of the announcement

The figure of 76 places San Marino within an international group of countries that have signed the Artemis Accords, according to NASA. The agency characterizes that group as a growing coalition sharing a vision of responsible exploration. The number indicates the reach of signatory participation on the date of the announcement, but it does not by itself show each signatory’s level of activity, contribution or space capability.

The announcement does not present scientific or statistical results: it reports a signature and attributes an assessment to a NASA official. No comparative data, investment figures or information about the practical impact of the signings is provided. The number of signatories should therefore be read as a count reported by NASA, not as a measure of how fully the accords’ principles have been put into effect.

What is known—and what remains unclear

NASA’s account confirms a specific set of facts: San Marino signed the Artemis Accords at a ceremony in Rimini on September 25, 2026, becoming the 76th signatory; NASA and U.S. Department of State officials were present. The names and positions of San Marino’s representatives, the detailed terms of the signing, national implementation measures and any future initiatives linked to it remain unspecified.

The announcement therefore marks a new diplomatic accession to the framework, but it is not enough on its own to measure its effects. Further details from the authorities involved would be needed to understand how it will translate into practical cooperation. NASA published the announcement of the signing and maintains an information page about the Artemis Accords.