The Republic of Croatia became the 74th signatory of the Artemis Accords on Wednesday during a ceremony in Zagreb attended by NASA and U.S. State Department officials.

“We are proud to welcome the Republic of Croatia as the newest signatory to the Artemis Accords,” NASA Deputy Administrator Matt Anderson said in pre-recorded remarks. “Joining the Artemis Accords is the beginning of a new chapter. We have aligned on principles. The opportunities to contribute are growing, and now we can look beyond Earth to what the United States and Croatia can achieve together. Humanity’s opportunities in space are limitless, and we are proud to welcome Croatia to the Artemis Accords community.”

Croatia Signs the Artemis Accords in Zagreb

Croatian Minister of Science, Education and Youth Radovan Fuchs signed the agreement on behalf of Croatia. U.S. Ambassador to Croatia Nicole McGraw and NASA Europe Representative Gregory Mann also attended the ceremony.

“Croatian scientists and companies are showing a growing interest in the space industry,” Fuchs said. “Therefore, we have decided to join the Artemis Accords and expand our international cooperation. This international agreement is recognized as an important opportunity for the solid development of Croatia’s scientific community, the introduction of new technologies and the strengthening of the economy.”

Croatia’s Growing Space Industry

Croatia reached a major milestone on December 21, 2024, when it successfully launched its first artificial satellite, Crocube. The satellite reached orbit aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, underscoring Croatia’s growing technological capabilities and interest in international space cooperation.

What Are the Artemis Accords?

NASA and the U.S. State Department, in collaboration with seven other founding nations, established the Artemis Accords in 2020 in response to growing interest in lunar activities by governments and private companies.

The Artemis Accords set out practical principles designed to increase transparency, security and coordination among countries involved in the exploration of the Moon, Mars and other destinations in space. Signatories commit to:

• Exploring peacefully and transparently
• Delivering aid to those in need
• Enabling access to scientific data
• Avoiding interference with the activities of others
• Developing best practices to preserve historically significant sites and artifacts

What Croatia’s Membership Means

By signing the Artemis Accords, Croatia opens the door to future lunar exploration opportunities with NASA. The agreement supports humanity’s return to the Moon while helping shape a new era of space exploration, scientific cooperation and technological innovation.