Vietnam becomes newest Artemis Accords signatory

NASA said in an announcement published Wednesday 28 October 2026 that the Socialist Republic of Vietnam had become the 78th nation to sign the Artemis Accords. The accord brings countries together around peaceful, transparent and responsible space exploration.

Vietnam’s Minister of Science and Technology Vũ Hải Quân signed the Artemis Accords on behalf of the country during the Vietnam International Digital Week in Ha Long. The United States Ambassador to Vietnam Jennifer Wicks also took part in the signing event.

NASA Deputy Administrator Matt Anderson said Vietnam was joining at an important point in the development of its space program. He said NASA and the Vietnam National Space Center had built momentum in satellite innovation, land-use research and radar-based Earth observation. He said the agreement opened a new chapter in that relationship.

Vietnam’s decision extended the U.S.-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership into space. NASA said the partnership had been built on more than 30 years of cooperation across defense, economic, law enforcement, war legacy and technology. The partnership advances peace, stability and prosperity in a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Earlier this year, NASA partnered with Vietnam’s Vietnamese-German University to support its Soil Moisture Active Passive mission. The mission measures surface-soil water worldwide. Vietnam also inaugurated its National Space Center in Hanoi and was developing domestic satellite capabilities through the LOTUSat program. The program focuses on Earth observation, weather monitoring and disaster response.

NASA and the State Department joined seven other founding nations in 2020 to establish the Artemis Accords. The founding nations introduced practical principles to improve safety and coordination as nations explored the Moon, Mars and beyond. Signatories committed to peaceful and transparent exploration, aid to those in need, access to scientific data, noninterference with other activities and preservation of historically significant sites and artifacts.