NASA Welcomes Djibouti as 72nd Signatory to Artemis Accords for Lunar Exploration
Djibouti has officially become the 72nd nation and the eighth African country to sign the Artemis Accords. The signing ceremony took place at NASA Headquarters in Washington, with NASA Deputy Administrator Matt Anderson hosting the event. Ambassador of Djibouti to the United States Mohamed Siad Douale signed on behalf of his nation, joined by U.S. State Department Assistant Secretary for African Affairs Frank Garcia. The Artemis Accords are a set of practical principles designed to enhance transparency, safety, and coordination among nations involved in lunar exploration and beyond. President Trump has directed NASA to return Americans to the lunar surface, establish a lasting presence, and prepare for human exploration of Mars. NASA aims to achieve these goals through international collaboration, offering opportunities for Accords nations to contribute hardware, scientific payloads, technology demonstrations, and other capabilities to future missions. Djibouti launched its national space program in 2020 a...