The Artemis Accords has recently welcomed its 53rd member nation, enhancing NASA’s initiatives to foster peaceful and collaborative international exploration of space.
Finland became part of NASA’s Artemis Accords on January 21 through a signing event that occurred alongside the Winter Satellite Workshop 2025 in Espoo, Finland. This signing designates the Nordic nation as the latest to pledge to the safe and accountable exploration of space for the benefit of humanity, as indicated by a NASA statement.
“Finland has been a participant in the space exploration sector for decades, with Finnish enterprises and research institutions contributing numerous innovations and technologies,” stated Finland’s Minister of Economic Affairs, Wille Rydman, in a separate statement.
“Through the Artemis Accords, we aspire to strengthen our collaboration with the United States and other partners. We hope that this cooperation will open avenues for the Finnish space industry in the emerging era of space exploration and the Artemis program,” added Rydman.
“Today, Finland joins a coalition of nations committed to sharing scientific data openly, ensuring safe operations, and protecting the space environment for the Artemis Generation,” remarked NASA Associate Administrator Jim Free, in pre-recorded comments during the ceremony.
Related: Artemis Accords: What are they & which countries are participating?
The Artemis Accords were established in October 2020, when eight founding nations signed on. The Accords outline a framework of shared principles, guidelines, and best practices for the exploration of the moon and beyond. They also reaffirm principles articulated in 1967 within the Outer Space Treaty to facilitate governance of international cooperation in space.
Finland follows Liechtenstein, Thailand, Panama and Austria as the latest additions in a growing roster of international signatories.