Mkhitar Hayrapetyan, Minister of High-Tech Industry of the Republic of Armenia delivers remarks during an Artemis Accords signing ceremony, Wednesday, June 12, 2024, at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters building in Washington. The Republic of Armenia is the 43rd country to sign the Artemis Accords, which establish a practical set of principles to guide space exploration cooperation among nations participating in NASA’s Artemis program. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to the United States Lilit Makunts delivers remarks during an Artemis Accords signing ceremony, Wednesday, June 12, 2024, at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters building in Washington. The Republic of Armenia is the 43rd country to sign the Artemis Accords, which establish a practical set of principles to guide space exploration cooperation among nations participating in NASA’s Artemis program. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to the United States Lilit Makunts delivers remarks during an Artemis Accords signing ceremony, Wednesday, June 12, 2024, at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters building in Washington. The Republic of Armenia is the 43rd country to sign the Artemis Accords, which establish a practical set of principles to guide space exploration cooperation among nations participating in NASA’s Artemis program. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Mkhitar Hayrapetyan, Minister of High-Tech Industry of the Republic of Armenia delivers remarks during an Artemis Accords signing ceremony, Wednesday, June 12, 2024, at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters building in Washington. The Republic of Armenia is the 43rd country to sign the Artemis Accords, which establish a practical set of principles to guide space exploration cooperation among nations participating in NASA’s Artemis program. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson looks on as Mkhitar Hayrapetyan, Minister of High-Tech Industry of the Republic of Armenia, signs the Artemis Accords, Wednesday, June 12, 2024, at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters building in Washington. The Republic of Armenia is the 43rd country to sign the Artemis Accords, which establish a practical set of principles to guide space exploration cooperation among nations participating in NASA’s Artemis program. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, left, and Mkhitar Hayrapetyan, Minister of High-Tech Industry of the Republic of Armenia, shake hands after the signing of the Artemis Accords, Wednesday, June 12, 2024, at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters building in Washington. The Republic of Armenia is the 43rd country to sign the Artemis Accords, which establish a practical set of principles to guide space exploration cooperation among nations participating in NASA’s Artemis program. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, left, delivers remarks during an Artemis Accords signing ceremony as Acting Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs Jennifer Littlejohn, second from left, Mkhitar Hayrapetyan, Minister of High-Tech Industry of the Republic of Armenia, and Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to the United States Lilit Makunts look on, Wednesday, June 12, 2024, at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters building in Washington. The Republic of Armenia is the 43rd country to sign the Artemis Accords, which establish a practical set of principles to guide space exploration cooperation among nations participating in NASA’s Artemis program. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Mkhitar Hayrapetyan, Minister of High-Tech Industry of the Republic of Armenia, left, delivers remarks during an Artemis Accords signing ceremony as Acting Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs Jennifer Littlejohn, second from left, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, and Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to the United States Lilit Makunts, look on, Wednesday, June 12, 2024, at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters building in Washington. The Republic of Armenia is the 43rd country to sign the Artemis Accords, which establish a practical set of principles to guide space exploration cooperation among nations participating in NASA’s Artemis program. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, left, delivers remarks during an Artemis Accords signing ceremony as Acting Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs Jennifer Littlejohn, second from left, Mkhitar Hayrapetyan, Minister of High-Tech Industry of the Republic of Armenia, and Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to the United States Lilit Makunts look on, Wednesday, June 12, 2024, at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters building in Washington. The Republic of Armenia is the 43rd country to sign the Artemis Accords, which establish a practical set of principles to guide space exploration cooperation among nations participating in NASA’s Artemis program. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to the United States Lilit Makunts, left, delivers remarks during an Artemis Accords signing ceremony as Acting Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs Jennifer Littlejohn, second from left, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, and Mkhitar Hayrapetyan, Minister of High-Tech Industry of the Republic of Armenia look on, Wednesday, June 12, 2024, at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters building in Washington. The Republic of Armenia is the 43rd country to sign the Artemis Accords, which establish a practical set of principles to guide space exploration cooperation among nations participating in NASA’s Artemis program. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Acting Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs Jennifer Littlejohn, left, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, Mkhitar Hayrapetyan, Minister of High-Tech Industry of the Republic of Armenia, and Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to the United States Lilit Makunts, pose for a picture after the signing of the Artemis Accords, Wednesday, June 12, 2024, at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters building in Washington. The Republic of Armenia is the 43rd country to sign the Artemis Accords, which establish a practical set of principles to guide space exploration cooperation among nations participating in NASA’s Artemis program. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Acting Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs Jennifer Littlejohn, left, delivers remarks during an Artemis Accords signing ceremony as NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, Mkhitar Hayrapetyan, Minister of High-Tech Industry of the Republic of Armenia, and Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to the United States Lilit Makunts, Wednesday, June 12, 2024, at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters building in Washington. The Republic of Armenia is the 43rd country to sign the Artemis Accords, which establish a practical set of principles to guide space exploration cooperation among nations participating in NASA’s Artemis program. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson delivers remarks during an Artemis Accords signing ceremony, Wednesday, June 12, 2024, at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters building in Washington. The Republic of Armenia is the 43rd country to sign the Artemis Accords, which establish a practical set of principles to guide space exploration cooperation among nations participating in NASA’s Artemis program. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Acting Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs Jennifer Littlejohn delivers remarks during an Artemis Accords signing ceremony, Wednesday, June 12, 2024, at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters building in Washington. The Republic of Armenia is the 43rd country to sign the Artemis Accords, which establish a practical set of principles to guide space exploration cooperation among nations participating in NASA’s Artemis program. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

iss074e0043931 (Jan. 3, 2026) --- Yerevan, Armenia, and its modernized bright LED city lights contrast with the older amber high-pressure sodium lights of Iğdır, Türkiye (left), in this photograph from the International Space Station as it orbited 262 miles above Earth at approximately 11:12 p.m. local time. Credit: JAXA/Kimiya Yui

iss074e0043972 (Jan. 3, 2026) --- Villages light up the coastline in this nighttime image of Lake Sevan, one of the largest freshwater high-altitude lakes in the world, sitting at 1,900 meters above sea level in Armenia. Lake Sevan is protected as Sevan National Park for its ecological importance and for providing landlocked Armenia with most of its fish. The International Space Station was orbiting 262 miles above Earth at 11:13 p.m. local time when this photograph was taken. Credit: JAXA/Kimiya Yui

ISS028-E-015023 (8 July 2011) --- The Aras River and Turkey-Armenia-Iran border region are featured in this image photographed by an Expedition 28 crew member on the International Space Station. This photograph highlights a segment of the international border between Turkey to the south-southwest and Armenia to the north-northeast. The Aras River is the physical expression of the closed border between the two countries. Extensive green agricultural fields are common on both sides of the river (top), as well as a number of gray to tan urban areas including Artashat and Armavir in Armenia and Igdir in Turkey. While there have been efforts to normalize diplomatic relations between the two countries in recent years, the Armenia-Turkey border remains officially closed. The dominant geographic feature in the region is Mt. Ararat, also known as Agri Dagi. The peak of Ararat, a large stratovolcano that last erupted in 1840 according to historical records, is located approximately 40 kilometers to the south of the Armenia-Turkey border. A lower peak to the east, known as Lesser or Little Ararat, is also volcanic in origin. Dark gray lava flows to the south of Mt. Ararat are located near the Turkish border with Iran. While this border is also closed along much of its length, official crossing points allow relatively easy travel between the two countries. The white, glacier-clad peak of Mt. Ararat is evident at center; dark green areas on the lower slopes indicate where vegetation cover is abundant. A large lake, Balik Golu or Fish Lake, is visible to the west (lower left).

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson delivers remarks during an Artemis Accords signing ceremony, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024, at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters building in Washington. The Republic of Armenia is the 49th country to sign the Artemis Accords, which establish a practical set of principles to guide space exploration cooperation among nations participating in NASA’s Artemis program. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Ambassador of the Republic of Panama to the United States of America José Miguel Alemán, left, shakes hands with NASA Administrator Bill Nelson after delivering remarks during an Artemis Accords signing ceremony, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024, at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters building in Washington. The Republic of Armenia is the 49th country to sign the Artemis Accords, which establish a practical set of principles to guide space exploration cooperation among nations participating in NASA’s Artemis program. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson delivers remarks during an Artemis Accords signing ceremony, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024, at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters building in Washington. The Republic of Armenia is the 49th country to sign the Artemis Accords, which establish a practical set of principles to guide space exploration cooperation among nations participating in NASA’s Artemis program. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson delivers remarks during an Artemis Accords signing ceremony, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024, at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters building in Washington. The Republic of Armenia is the 49th country to sign the Artemis Accords, which establish a practical set of principles to guide space exploration cooperation among nations participating in NASA’s Artemis program. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Meira Bernstein, NASA Press Secretary, introduces NASA Administrator Bill Nelson at an Artemis Accords signing ceremony, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024, at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters building in Washington. The Republic of Armenia is the 49th country to sign the Artemis Accords, which establish a practical set of principles to guide space exploration cooperation among nations participating in NASA’s Artemis program. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

U.S. Department of State Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs Tony Fernandes delivers remarks during an Artemis Accords signing ceremony, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024, at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters building in Washington. The Republic of Armenia is the 49th country to sign the Artemis Accords, which establish a practical set of principles to guide space exploration cooperation among nations participating in NASA’s Artemis program. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Ambassador of the Republic of Panama to the United States of America José Miguel Alemán delivers remarks during an Artemis Accords signing ceremony, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024, at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters building in Washington. The Republic of Armenia is the 49th country to sign the Artemis Accords, which establish a practical set of principles to guide space exploration cooperation among nations participating in NASA’s Artemis program. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

U.S. Department of State Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs Tony Fernandes delivers remarks as NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, center, and \José Miguel Alemán Healy, look on during an Artemis Accords signing ceremony, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024, at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters building in Washington. The Republic of Armenia is the 49th country to sign the Artemis Accords, which establish a practical set of principles to guide space exploration cooperation among nations participating in NASA’s Artemis program. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson delivers remarks as Ambassador of the Republic of Panama to the United States of America José Miguel Alemán, center, and U.S. Department of State Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs Tony Fernandes look on during an Artemis Accords signing ceremony, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024, at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters building in Washington. The Republic of Armenia is the 49th country to sign the Artemis Accords, which establish a practical set of principles to guide space exploration cooperation among nations participating in NASA’s Artemis program. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Ambassador of the Republic of Panama to the United States of America José Miguel Alemán, left, delivers remarks as NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, and U.S. Department of State Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs Tony Fernandes look on during an Artemis Accords signing ceremony, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024, at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters building in Washington. The Republic of Armenia is the 49th country to sign the Artemis Accords, which establish a practical set of principles to guide space exploration cooperation among nations participating in NASA’s Artemis program. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Ambassador of the Republic of Panama to the United States of America José Miguel Alemán delivers remarks as NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, center, and U.S. Department of State Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs Tony Fernandes look on during an Artemis Accords signing ceremony, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024, at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters building in Washington. The Republic of Armenia is the 49th country to sign the Artemis Accords, which establish a practical set of principles to guide space exploration cooperation among nations participating in NASA’s Artemis program. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)