On Tuesday, October 7, the government approved Latvia’s accession to the international cooperation framework known as the Artemis Accords, also referred to as the Artemis Agreement on Peaceful and Sustainable Space Exploration.
The accords establish fundamental principles for how countries collaborate in space exploration and technological development, based on transparency, responsibility, and sustainability. Notably, the decision proposed by the Ministry of Education and Science and approved by the Cabinet of Ministers was adopted during World Space Week, which is celebrated worldwide from October 4 to 10.
The Artemis Accords were developed in 2020 by the United States government and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). To date, they have been signed by 56 countries, including Central European Union (EU) member states as well as Japan, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. The accords were established in connection with NASA’s Artemis program – a new international initiative aimed at returning humans to the Moon and later advancing missions to Mars.
By becoming part of the Artemis Accords, Latvia will strengthen its international cooperation in the space sector, open new opportunities for Latvian researchers, students, and entrepreneurs, and promote the integration of the national industry into global space technology supply chains.
Minister of Education and Science Dace Melbārde stated:
"Latvia’s accession to the Artemis Accords is an important step towards our more active participation in the global space community. We are proud to join the circle of nations committed to exploring and using outer space responsibly and sustainably. This initiative will open new opportunities for our researchers and companies, as well as inspire young people – the future engineers, scientists, and perhaps even astronauts."
This agreement complements the 1967 United Nations Outer Space Treaty and aligns with the EU’s efforts to develop a unified Space Act, ensuring that Latvia’s position adheres to internationally recognised principles in the field of space.
The Artemis Accords set out the following key principles:
- The use of outer space exclusively for peaceful purposes.
- Openness and transparency in national space activities;
- Scientific data sharing and cooperation;
- Registration and safety of space objects;
- Sustainable use of space resources;
- Public engagement and education of the next generation on space topics.
The name Artemis originates from Greek mythology, where Artemis is the goddess of the Moon and the sister of Apollo. This connection symbolically continues NASA’s Apollo mission tradition and marks a new era of space exploration.
By joining this international initiative, Latvia will strengthen its cooperation with NASA, the European Space Agency, and other spacefaring nations, fostering the development of science, education, and industry.
Further information on the informational report of 07.10.2025, “On Latvia’s Accession to the Artemis Accords”, is available on the Cabinet of Ministers’ website.
