At a ceremony hosted at NASA headquarters in Washington, D.C., on April 23, 2026, Jordan officially became the sixth Middle Eastern country to sign the Artemis Accords—a multinational agreement to ensure responsible, transparent, and peaceful exploration of the Moon, Mars, and beyond. Ambassador Dina Kawar represented the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, signing the accords alongside NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman and Ruth Perry from the U.S. State Department.
Jordan joins the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Israel as a signatory from the Middle East, marking a significant step in the region’s growing engagement with space science and exploration. “Jordan’s commitment today aligns with our vision that nations should explore space openly, responsibly and as allies,” Isaacman said. The Artemis Accords, first established in 2020 by NASA, the U.S. State Department, and seven other founding nations, lay out practical principles for safety, transparency, and international collaboration in civil space exploration.
Jordan’s Expanding Space Ambitions
Jordan has shown increasing ambition in space research over the last several years. Notably, the country’s privately operated analog research facility in Wadi Rum has hosted the PETRA1 and PETRA2 missions in 2024 and 2025—experiments designed to advance human spaceflight and planetary research. These missions have real-world applications, aiming to benefit life on Earth as well.
The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) highlighted that Jordan’s move to join the Artemis Accords was facilitated via the Royal Jordanian Geographic Centre and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This step, UNOOSA noted, gives Jordan access to enhanced international cooperation and the chance to contribute directly to the NASA Artemis program. The country has also been active in satellite launches and, in 2025, announced Salam Abu Al Hijja as its first astronaut candidate for future missions.
Next Steps: From Wadi Rum to the Moon
Looking ahead, NASA officials are expected to visit Jordan to witness the nation’s enthusiasm for science and space firsthand. Preparations are already underway for NASA’s first “Analog Mission” in Wadi Rum, scheduled for November 2026 under the Artemis Accords framework.
As the world prepares for humanity’s return to the Moon—this time, to stay—the addition of Jordan to the Artemis Accords strengthens both regional and global cooperation in the peaceful use and exploration of outer space.
