Paraguay is officially the 67th nation to sign the Artemis Accords. This marks a major development in the country’s position in international space cooperation, which could create increased avenues for opportunities in the aerospace sector. The signing ceremony took place on 7 May 2026 in Asunción. The Minister President of the Paraguayan Space Agency (AEP), Osvaldo Almirón Riveros, endorsed the agreement.
What are the Artemis Accords?
The Artemis Accords are a set of guiding principles established by NASA and the U.S. State Department in 2020 to promote peaceful, transparent, and sustainable civil space exploration. The framework outlines standard best practices for cooperation as nations and private companies expand space-related activities. It focuses on areas such as lunar exploration, Mars missions, and deep space research.
The accords were introduced as global interest in lunar activity accelerated, creating a framework to help prevent conflict and encourage coordination as space exploration expands.
More than symbolic diplomacy
“The signing of the Artemis Accords reflects Paraguay’s commitment to international cooperation, the peaceful use of outer space, and the continued development of our national space capabilities,” Riveros says. “It strengthens our position within the global space community and opens doors for research, innovation, and sustainable development.”
Building on recent space achievements
Paraguay’s space programme has steadily developed since the creation of the Paraguayan Space Agency in 2014. A major milestone arrived in 2021 when Paraguay successfully launched GuaraníSat-1, the country’s first satellite, from the International Space Station. The miniature research satellite is classified as a CubeSat, a compact and affordable spacecraft frequently used by emerging national space programmes. Engineers intentionally designed the mission to demonstrate technology while training Paraguayan researchers in orbital operations and satellite data transmission. As a result, the project strengthened Paraguay’s early space capabilities and provided valuable experience in advanced aerospace development.
Meanwhile, the agency is preparing a second mission and aims to launch GuaraníSat-2 later this year aboard a Falcon 9 rocket. The launch is expected to take place from California’s Vandenberg Space Force Base with support from several international collaborators. In addition, specialists from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory contributed to the project, further strengthening Paraguay’s growing technical partnerships abroad.
A new chapter for Paraguayan science
Paraguay is the 67th nation to join the Artemis Accords, reflecting a growing momentum of international support behind NASA’s lunar exploration framework, particularly in the goal of establishing a sustained human presence on the Moon and laying the groundwork for eventual missions to Mars. By joining the accords, Paraguay commits to peaceful exploration, transparency in operations, sharing scientific data, providing emergency assistance to space personnel, and protecting historically significant sites in space.
Paraguay’s entry into the Artemis Accords signals its intention to expand its role in global scientific and technological development. As the country continues to invest in satellite technology and international collaboration, the agreement places Paraguay among the nations helping to shape the next era of space exploration.
