Welcome to the GEGSLA Monthly Newsletter!

We are delighted to introduce the 12th edition of the Global Expert Group on Sustainable Lunar Activities (GEGSLA) monthly newsletter. Your unwavering dedication and collaborative efforts remain the cornerstone of our achievements. In the following pages, you will discover compelling updates and meaningful endeavors that mirror our mutual dedication to lunar exploration and sustainability.

Our expedition is one marked by exploration and conscientious action. By advocating for sustainability, we are forging a path towards a future where lunar activities harmonize with the welfare of our planet and beyond.

Uruguay and Greece Join the Artemis Accords

Uruguay and Greece have recently become the latest countries to sign the Artemis Accords. Uruguay became the 36th signatory to the Artemis Accords on February 15, 2024, with Greece preceding as the 35th signatory on February 9, 2024. These signings underscore a growing global commitment to the peaceful, safe, and transparent exploration and use of outer space.

The Uruguayan Foreign Minister, Omar Paganini, formalized Uruguay's commitment in a ceremony held at NASA Headquarters in Washington, attended by notable figures including the Uruguayan Ambassador to the United States, Andrés Durán, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson , U.S. Ambassador to Uruguay, Heide Fulton, and Deputy Assistant Secretary Kevin Sullivan.

Similarly, Greece's accession to the Artemis Accords was marked during the fifth round of the U.S.-Greece Strategic Dialogue in Washington, D.C., with Greek Foreign Minister Georgios Gerapetritis signing the Accords. The ceremony was attended by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson , and President of the Hellenic Space Center, Dr. Ioannis Daglis,? that welcomed Greece’s commitment to the peaceful, safe and transparent exploration and use of outer space .

The Artemis Accords, spearheaded by NASA, aim to set a framework for cooperation in space exploration, ensuring that space activities are conducted in accordance with principles that benefit all humanity. The inclusion of Uruguay and Greece highlights the increasing international interest and collaboration in space exploration, setting the stage for future cooperative ventures beyond Earth's orbit.

COPUOS takes one step closer to setting up an Action Team on Lunar?Activities Consultation (ATLAC)

COPUOS takes one step closer to setting up an Action Team on Lunar?Activities Consultation (ATLAC).? The Proposal on a Consultative Mechanism on Lunar Activities, proposed at the Science and Technical Subcommittee on 1-9 February, by the Delegation from Romania led by Dorin Prunariu, will be further discussed at the Legal Sub-Committee of COPUOS from?15-26 April 2024.

This progress builds upon the commendable efforts of the Moon Village Association (MVA) , under the presidency of Giuseppe Reibaldi , and the Global Expert Group on Sustainable Lunar Activities (GEGSLA) , led by Dorin Prunariu , which has proposed a Recommended Framework among others. The GEGSLA Working Group 3, co-chaired by Professor Mark Sundahl , Director of the Global Space Law Center at Cleveland State University, and Mr. Yu Xu from the Chinese Foreign Ministry, is making significant strides in enhancing lunar multi-stakeholder coordination aimed at ensuring peaceful, safe, and sustainable lunar endeavors.

For more information, refer to the following documents:

- Proposal on a Consultative Mechanism on Lunar Activities - Non-Paper submitted by the Delegation of Romania

- Proposal on a Consultative Mechanism on Lunar Activities - Paper submitted by the Delegation of Romania

Intuitive Machines IM-1: Odysseus soft-land on the Moon, albeit sideways and with the mission ending a week earlier than scheduled

On 22 February 2024, Intuitive Machines became the first commercial organisation in the entire world to soft-land on the Moon, and make it an American success with its Nova-C-class lander called “Odysseus.”. It was also the first US entity to soft-land in this first quarter of the 21st century and following a more than 50 years hiatus. Events between 23 and 26 February unfold as follows.

On 23 February 2024 around midnight European time, Intuitive Machines and NASA held a joint conference . This is when we learned that IM-1 lander Odysseus did land softly on the Moon , albeit sideways. However, antennas and solar cell wok satisfactorily, and all active payloads are operational. To be fair, considering the role that NASA ultimately played in salvaging the mission, perhaps it could be considered as an hybrid US commercial-government success: while still on orbit around the Moon, Odysseus' laser rangefinders failed, but could be replaced literally on-the-fly by one of NASA's payload, a Navigation Doppler LiDAR (NDL) instrument. This is what permitted Odysseus' soft landing, instantly qualifying the NDL from Technology Readiness Levels 6 to 9, which is operational validation. Sylvester Kaczmarek provides additional analysis here .

However, on 26 February 2024, we learned that IM-1 would end much faster than initially scheduled, about a week earlier: Odysseus continued to communicate with flight controllers in Nova Control from the lunar surface. After understanding the end-to-end communication requirements, Odysseus sent images from the lunar surface of its vertical descent to its Malapert A landing site, representing the furthest south any vehicle has been able to land on the Moon and establish communication with ground controllers. As of 26 February, flight controllers intended to collect data until the lander’s solar panels are no longer exposed to light. Based on Earth and Moon positioning, Intuitive Machines believed flight controllers would continue to communicate with Odysseus. Details are available here and here .

UK boosts spending on International Moon partnerships

The UK Space Agency announced on 14 February that it will invest ￡7.4M ($9.3M) into joint projects with India, Japan, Canada, and the US that will pave the way for exploration of the Moon and Mars.?The funding will allow British research teams to build scientific instruments for missions led by NASA, JAXA, and?ISRO—as well as a commercial partnership with the Japanese lunar exploration startup ispace.? A team from the University of Leicester will develop a Raman analytical spectroscope to help ispace’s landers search for resources on the lunar surface. And researchers from Royal Holloway University will join the team working on India’s Chandrayaan-2 mission: it will develop new software to analyze data the mission's orbiter still collects about the distribution of water on the Moon.

NASA launches the Lunar Surface Sustainability research initiative

NASA's Office of Technology, Policy and Strategy (OTPS) has launched a significant funding initiative aimed at advancing the sustainability of activities in Earth's orbit and on the lunar surface. This new effort seeks to address the critical social, economic, and policy dimensions essential for fostering sustainable practices in space exploration and utilization. The Lunar Surface Sustainability research initiative is designed to confront the challenges associated with preserving the Moon's environment amidst ongoing and future lunar operations. This includes the protection of scientifically and historically significant sites, such as the Permanently Shadowed Regions and Apollo landing sites. Deadline for submission of proposals is 17 May 2024, details are available here .

China’s Chang’e-7 moon mission to target Shackleton crater

China will attempt to land on the illuminated rim of Shackleton crater near?the lunar south pole with its 2026 Chang’e-7 mission. Such a site is considered as an attractive location for other missions such as the Artemis series. This is due to favorable illumination while also being close to permanently shadowed regions which could host volatiles such as water-ice.

Mu Space (Thailand) signs Memorandum of Understanding with ispace (Japan) for future lunar missions

mu Space and Advanced Technology Co., Ltd. (mu Space) have announced today the signature of two memorandums of understanding on payload services and strategic cooperation with ispace inc. (ispace), a private lunar robotic exploration company based in Japan. According to the agreements, the two companies have entered negotiations for future payload services to lunar orbit and lunar surface and agreed to collaborate on the development the cislunar satellite market by working in coordination to provide transportation and deployment for lunar satellite payload customers while supplying the satellite components. As part of the agreement, mu Space and ispace will conduct joint market development in Japan and Thailand to accelerate the number of lunar orbiting satellite missions including small satellite payloads and lunar lander payloads with the mass of up to 100 kg.

China prepares to launch Lunar exploration satellites Tiandu 1 and Tiandu 2

The Tiandu 1 and Tiandu 2 satellites are scheduled for launch in the first half of the year, alongside Queqiao 2, or Magpie Bridge 2, a relay satellite integral to lunar exploration missions, which was recently transported to the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in South China's Hainan province.?Tiandu 1 and Tiandu 2 are poised to play a crucial role in the development of China's lunar communication, navigation, and remote sensing systems. Weighing 61 kilograms, Tiandu 1 is outfitted with a Ka dual-band communicator, a laser corner reflector, and a space router, making it a versatile tool for lunar exploration.?On the other hand, Tiandu 2, with a weight of 15 kilograms, carries essential communication and navigation devices. Both satellites will enter the lunar transfer orbit alongside Queqiao 2, then proceed to orbit the Moon, conducting measurements and technological experiments crucial for future missions.

U.S. Startup Interlune has raised $15.6 million in new funding?

Interlune , a stealthy moon startup led by ex-Blue Origin leaders,?has raised $15.6 million in new funding with another $2 million remaining to be sold . The activities of Interlune were first reported in GeekWire and TechCrunch and more recently in Payload . What little is known of Interlune’s tech comes from an abstract of a small SBIR the startup was awarded last year from the U.S. National Science Foundation. Under that award, the company said it will aim to “develop a core enabling technology for lunar in situ resource utilization: the ability to sort ‘moon dirt’ (lunar regolith) by particle size.

Moon Food Court: Lunar crews could potentially make hummus with moon-grown chickpeas!

Scientists have managed to grow chickpeas in a soil engineered to be analogue to lunar regolith dust . Since there isn't sufficient Moon soil on Earth (from samples brought back by the Apollo missions), Jessica Atkin, a graduate student at Texas A&M University, and her colleagues used "amended moondust," a material engineered from Earth's geological materials to replicate lunar soil, such as its minerals and the size of its characteristic particles. The study team hypothesized that the microscopic interactions between chickpeas, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and vermicompost (VC) would help plant growth by sequestering toxins from the amended moondust and changing its structure to improve water retention and tolerance toward stress. While the study has yet to be peer-reviewed, it would be nice to test and taste the resulting hummus. Next challenge: produce falafel, with chickpeas, herbs, and spices.

Lonestar Data Holdings launched Independence, their first lunar data center test mission onboard IM-1

Lonestar Data Holdings launched Independence , their first lunar data center test mission onboard Intuitive Machine Mission 1 IM-1. Their goal is to develop a new market tier of data cold storage on the Moon. The company already conducted a successful test in cislunar space onboard IM-1 lander Odysseus . Next tests are in the process of taking place on the lunar surface, now that Odysseus has soft landed on the Moon. However final status remains TBD since IM-1 is ending a week earlier than initially scheduled.

?

Ulpia Elena Botezatu elected as new Chair of the COPUOS?Scientific and Technical Sub-Committee (STSC)

UN COPUOS 2024 kicked off with the opening of the Scientific and Technical Sub-Committee (STSC); with a new chair, Ulpia Elena Botezatu from Romania , and new ad-hoc STSC observers from GSOA and Space Data Association.

Updates from the Romanian Government and Media are available here and here .

IAA Symposium on Moon Farside Protection

The International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) is gearing up for an unprecedented event in the world of space exploration - the first-ever Symposium on Moon Farside Protection, scheduled for March 21-22, 2024, in Turin, Italy. Conceived by Prof. Claudio Maccone, IAA's Technical Director for Scientific Space Exploration, this symposium aims to spotlight the critical importance of preserving the Moon's Farside for scientific research. The event will bring together experts from across the globe to discuss the protection of this unique celestial region, known for its natural radio silence and immense potential for groundbreaking discoveries in fields like cosmology, astrobiology, and the search for extraterrestrial intelligence. MVA will be represented by the President, and several GEGSLA participants will be present as well

With the increasing number of lunar missions, the Moon Farside's Shielded Zone on the Moon (SZM) faces the threat of radio frequency pollution, which could compromise its scientific value. The symposium's agenda will focus on strategies to safeguard this pristine environment from such risks. Leading international organizations, space agencies, and private sector entities will present their views and research findings, fostering a robust dialogue on the future of lunar exploration and the urgent need for protective measures. The event, set in the historically and scientifically rich city of Turin, represents a crucial step in shaping a sustainable future for space exploration where scientific discovery and lunar activities coexist harmoniously. More information can be found here .

GEGSLA's Key Framework Document Now Available in Arabic

In a significant step towards broadening global accessibility and understanding, the "Recommended Framework and Key Elements for Peaceful and Sustainable Lunar Activities" document has been translated into Arabic. This commendable effort was undertaken by Nasr A. Al-Sahhaf, PhD, Chair of the International Moon Day Group (IMD-G), based in Vienna, Austria. This translation is a testament to GEGSLA's commitment to inclusive and diverse participation in lunar activities. The Arabic version of the document, which aims to guide the international community in responsible lunar exploration and use, is now available for download here , facilitating wider engagement and understanding among Arabic-speaking stakeholders in the field of lunar activities.

The UK and Canadian Space Agencies just launched the Aqualunar Challenge

by Christophe Bosquillon

The UK Space Agency (UK-led ) together with the Canadian Space Agency (Canada-led ) just launched the Aqualunar Challenge - a ￡1.2m challenge prize to reward the development of new technologies that can purify water ice found in the Moon’s soil. As part of their contribution to the Artemis Missions, UKSA and CSA hope these technologies will go on to support a permanent crewed lunar base, providing a source of water for drinking and growing food, as well as a source of oxygen for air and hydrogen for fuel.

This challenge is also rooted in popular demand: findings from new research show how people in the UK would like these kinds of technology to be repurposed to meet sustainability challenges on Earth. The Aqualunar Challenge is an open innovation competition, entrants do not need prior experience of working in the space sector. Innovators that work in, for example, the water, chemical and physical engineering, biosciences, environmental sciences and the sustainability sectors are encouraged just as much as those already working in the space and satellite sectors.

The challenge encourages international collaboration within teams, although entrants to the UK track must have a UK lead partner (likewise the Canadian track requires a Canadian lead partner). Nesta’s Challenge Works is in charge of the logistics of the Aqualunar Challenge. The deadline to enter the Aqualunar Challenge is 8 April 2024. Practical details here and here .

Join as a GEGSLA Participant

If you're interested in joining GEGSLA as a participant in its Operational Phase and support the dissemination of the Recommended Framework , you may express your interest at the form here . This Expression of Interest form is designed to gather information from individuals who are interested in becoming members of the group. It includes questions about the applicant's background, expertise, and interest in sustainable lunar activities. The purpose of this form is to recruit qualified individuals who can contribute to the group's mission of promoting sustainable and responsible lunar activities through the GEGSLA Framework.

Outreach Events on Lunar Coordination and the GEGSLA Framework

We invite all community members to join us in spreading lunar knowledge by organizing Outreach Events focused on Lunar Coordination and the GEGSLA Framework. Whether you're a seasoned space expert or simply curious about lunar advancements, outreach events provide a platform to discuss and learn about optimized lunar infrastructure and its implications for the future. It is a great opportunity to share insights, engage with fellow enthusiasts, and contribute to the expansion of lunar knowledge. If you are organizing an outreach event related to our work at GEGSLA or have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us at [email protected]

MVA Adaptive Governance Working Group

The Adaptive Governance Working Group (AGWG) of the Moon Village Association is dedicated to promoting cooperation, coordination and governance for peaceful and sustainable activities on the Moon, converging with the work of GEGSLA. Among its recent activities are the Registration Project, the inputs for the UN COPUOS LSC Working Group on Legal Aspects of Space Resource Activities and the ongoing Benefit Sharing Project (BSP). Get involved by contacting the WG secretary Constantine Arhontas at [email protected] .

During the current Operational Phase, GEGSLA's main sponsors for 2024 so far, are Luxembourg Space Agency , COSPAR – Committee on Space Research and Lockheed Martin . We are grateful for their continued support in our efforts to foster sustainability and inclusion in future lunar activities. Our sponsors are essential players in making our vision for an international Moon Village a reality.

GEGSLA is committed to advancing the cause of sustainable lunar exploration on a global scale. In line with MVA's mission, we promote peaceful, collaborative, and sustainable lunar activities while fostering international cooperation. We believe that the Moon holds immense potential for scientific, economic, and societal advancement and is vital to humanity's future.

In 2024, we have ambitious plans to further these goals:

1. Policy Advocacy within the UN Framework: We will continue our engagement with international space organizations and policymakers to advocate for policies promoting responsible lunar resource use. We'll share our Recommended Framework for Sustainable Lunar Activities, focusing on bodies like the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) and the Summit of the Future (SoF).

2. Raising Awareness via Outreach: GEGSLA will actively raise awareness about lunar sustainability through webinars, seminars, and conferences. We aim to present our findings during COPUOS sessions, ensuring our recommendations are considered at the highest levels of space governance.

3. Collaborative Projects: We seek partnerships with organizations sharing our vision to initiate projects in lunar exploration, research, and sustainability, turning our framework into actionable solutions.

4. Working Groups: Expert-led working groups will tackle lunar sustainability facets, developing guidelines and recommendations.

Your sponsorship of GEGSLA for our 2024 activities directly contributes to lunar exploration and sustainable Moon presence. It supports planning and execution of these activities, ensuring their success. In return, we offer tailored benefits, including prominent visibility, acknowledgments, and networking opportunities.

By joining us, you demonstrate commitment to responsible space exploration and play a pivotal role in shaping lunar activities' future. We are actively seeking sponsors to be confirmed by end of November 2023.

If you are interested in sponsoring GEGSLA's activities, you may contact us at [email protected] or donate directly to GEGSLA through the MVA website here .

6th GEGSLA Operational Meeting Set for May 29, 2024: Focusing on UN COPUOS Preparations

We are excited to announce the upcoming 6th Operational Meeting of the Global Expert Group on Sustainable Lunar Activities (GEGSLA), scheduled for May 29, 2024. This meeting is set to be a pivotal gathering for GEGSLA, especially as it aims to prepare for the upcoming United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UN COPUOS) session. The meeting represents a crucial opportunity for our experts and working groups to synchronize their efforts, review the progress made so far, and strategize for the future.

In line with our commitment to inclusivity and global participation, the 6th Operational Meeting will be conducted virtually. This format ensures that our international members can contribute effectively, regardless of their location. The agenda for this meeting is particularly significant as it will focus on shaping our contributions and positions for the forthcoming UN COPUOS session. We'll be discussing critical developments in policy, ongoing outreach efforts, the advancement of our research projects, and exploring new partnership avenues.

We urge all participants to prioritize this meeting and register early using the provided link, ensuring their active participation in these crucial discussions. The registration link and additional details about the meeting's agenda and logistics will be shared in our upcoming newsletter.

This meeting is more than just a routine gathering; it's a call to action for all GEGSLA members to collaboratively steer the direction of sustainable lunar activities and make a meaningful impact at the UN COPUOS. Let's come together to make this a defining moment for GEGSLA and set the tone for our collective efforts in 2024 and beyond.

Upcoming webinar "Climate Action & Lunar Exploration"

MVA is excited to announce our upcoming webinar "Climate Action & Lunar Exploration" on Earth Day, April 22nd, co-organized with?The Human Space Program ?and?Cosmic Citizen Trainings, Inc. ?

Contact Us

If you would like to share news or events in our next monthly newsletter, partner with GEGSLA, or highlight your organization's work, reach out to us at [email protected]