{
  "id": 9014282,
  "title": "NASA Welcomes Albania as Newest Artemis Accords Signatory",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/nasa-welcomes-albania-as-newest-artemis-accords-signatory",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-09-21T21:21:32.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "NASA",
    "slug": "nasa",
    "url": "https://www.nasa.gov/organizations/oiir/nasa-welcomes-albania-as-newest-artemis-accords-signatory/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Republic of Albania recently became the 73rd signatory to the Artemis Accords, a coalition of nations committed to responsible and transparent space exploration. U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Space and Environment Connor Tomlinson, NASA Deputy Administrator Matt Anderson, and Albania's Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha attended the signing ceremony at NASA's headquarters in Washington on September 21, 2026. Hoxha affirmed Albania's commitment to peaceful, transparent, sustainable, and cooperative space exploration, emphasizing the importance of international law and multilateral cooperation. Albania launched its first Earth-observation satellites, Albania-1 and Albania-2, in January 2023, demonstrating its growing capabilities in space. Albania has also participated actively in NASA's Space Apps Challenge, a global hackathon that connects innovators with NASA's data. The Artemis Accords, initially established in 2020 by seven founding nations, aim to enhance safety and coordination in lunar, Mars, and beyond exploration. By signing the accords, nations gain access to opportunities in future lunar exploration, supporting humanity's return to the Moon and contributing to the Golden Age of space exploration and innovation.",
  "summary": "The Republic of Albania signed the Artemis Accords Monday during a ceremony hosted by NASA at the agency’s headquarters in Washington, joining the coalition of like‑minded nations committed to the responsible and transparent exploration of space. “It is my privilege to welcome the Republic of Albania as the 73rd signatory of the Artemis Accords,” said […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "NASA Science",
        "title": "NASA Welcomes Albania as Newest Artemis Accords Signatory",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/nasa-welcomes-albania-as-newest-artemis-accords-signatory-9021266",
        "published": "2026-09-21T21:21:32.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}