Welcome to the GEGSLA Monthly Newsletter!

We are delighted to introduce the 17th 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.

International Moon Day 2024

International Moon Day 2024, themed “Illuminating the Shadows” showcased significant strides in lunar exploration and the vision for humanity's future on the moon. The main event in Harbin, China, titled "Moon Village 2050: A New Home for Humanity," featured an array of distinguished speakers. The event kicked off with remarks from Jiecai Han, President of Harbin Institute of Technology, and Giuseppe Reibaldi, President of the Moon Village Association. Keynote speeches were delivered by prominent figures such as Dr. Dorin Dumitru Prunariu and Dr. Nasr Al-Sahhaf. Two round table discussions focused on the importance of lunar exploration for humanity and the economy, featuring experts like Dr. Scott Pace and Prof. Alice Gorman. The event concluded with an award ceremony for the "Moon Station 2050 Global Innovation Competition."

In Rostock, Germany, the event "Moon Village 2050: Exploring Lunar Mobility" emphasized advancements in lunar mobility technologies. The program included opening remarks from Irene Selvanathan, CEO of Neurospace GmbH, and Giuseppe Reibaldi. Keynote speakers such as Karl Stolleis from Lockheed Martin and Jim Keravala from OffWorld Inc. discussed cutting-edge developments in lunar mobility. A highlight of the event was the demonstration of Neurospace's HiveR rover. The event provided a comprehensive overview of the technologies and innovations essential for future lunar missions.

Globally, International Moon Day was celebrated with various events. In Brazil, the Museu de História Geológica do Rio Grande do Sul hosted an exhibition honoring the 55th anniversary of the moon landing. Cyprus held the "Pan-European IMD 2024 Celebration" in Nicosia, focusing on the moon as a laboratory for peace and imagination. Ukraine conducted the "3rd PromoMoon Initiative Closing Ceremony" online, celebrating innovative lunar projects. Additionally, Brazil's Museu do Café de Piratininga featured an open-air talk and dinner event, while Turkey organized a discussion on the future opportunities in lunar exploration. These events collectively highlighted the global enthusiasm and collaborative efforts toward sustainable lunar exploration.

Other amazing events took place on the same day, such as the Webinar on Lunar Environmental Protection within the framework of the Lunar Environmental Protection Working Group (WG 1) of GEGSLA. And the 3rd International Moon Symposium for Spanish and Portuguese Speakers. All events program and replay on 20 July 2024 and the following week can be viewed on the IMD website.

To further these efforts, the Innovative University Consortium for the Moon Village 2025 was announced. This consortium aims to involve universities worldwide in activities related to Moon Village 2050. With this occasion, 29 Chinese universities have joined this consortium, and the Moon Village Association (MVA) will be acting as the platform for the rest of the world. More information under MVA leadership will follow.

Tim Fernholz: SPACETIDE 2024 second installment “Japan’s Bet on the World’s Lunar Race”

In a second installment about SPACETIDE 2024 in Payload "Japan’s Bet of the World’s Lunar Race" Tim Fernholz reports that the first European rover on the Moon will be delivered and operated by a Japanese company—thanks to Tokyo-based ispace’s omnipresence in the world’s robotic race to the Moon. “I’m very proud that we can bring Luxembourg and Europe to the surface of the Moon for the first time,” Julien Lamamy, the CEO of ispace Europe, told reporters as he unveiled the finished 5-kg micro rover, dubbed Tenacious. In late July-early August 2024, the vehicle will be shipped to Japan and integrated into ispace’s Mission 2 lander, which is expected to launch this year, while it is believed that this second attempt will achieve soft landing. Japan is a major partner of Artemis, and more details on JAXA and the Japanese private sector lunar agenda can be found in the Payload second instalment.

Jeff Foust: lunar orbital collision risk and reference to UNOOSA and ATLAC as solution mechanism

Jeff Foust provided interesting feedback from Tokyo in?Space News in an article about lunar orbital collisions risk prevention. The article refers to COPUOS ATLAC and is directly relevant to GEGSLA’s continuous involvement.

In a presentation at the Secure World Foundation’s Summit for Space Sustainability in Tokyo July 11, Soyoung Chung, senior researcher at the Korea Aerospace Research Institutes (KARI) strategy and planning directorate, said her agency had received 40 “red alarms” of potential collisions among spacecraft orbiting the moon in the last 18 months. The warnings primarily involve close approaches involving KARI’s Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter (KPLO), NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) and the Chandrayaan-2 orbiter from India’s space agency ISRO, which are all in similar low orbits around the moon. The three agencies voluntarily share information about the orbits of their spacecraft using a NASA platform called MADCAP that generates collision warnings. The issue, Chung noted, highlights the lack of formal processes and procedures for coordinating spacecraft around the moon, a problem that will only grow worse as more companies and countries send missions there. “Right now, there’s no mutually agreed-upon international consultation mechanism or protocol to resolve such collision risks,” Chung said. The coordination among ISRO, KARI and NASA is a voluntary system that others, like China, have not participated in. “Not all actors are involved in this process.”?One mechanism for doing so may be through the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS). The committee agreed at its meeting last month to establish an Action Team on Lunar Activities Consultation, based on a proposal from the Republic of Korea and Romania.?Chung said coordination mechanisms for lunar spacecraft will be one of the topic the action team will consider.?

The proposal tabled by Romania with support from Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, Poland, Portugal, the Republic of Korea, and Switzerland, for establishing an Action Team on Lunar Activities Consultation (ATLAC) has been approved by the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UN COPUOS) on Friday, June 28th, 2024. The mandate, terms of reference and methods of work can be consulted here.

China Expands International Cooperation on Lunar Exploration

Ahead of International Moon Day 2024, China is making significant strides in fostering global cooperation in lunar exploration. Wu Weiren, chief designer of China’s lunar exploration program, highlighted China's openness to international partnerships in an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN). Wu emphasized the country's willingness to collaborate with nations from the Global South, BRICS countries, and Western nations. He revealed that China has already signed agreements with over 10 countries and nearly 30 international research institutions. Wu outlined an ambitious goal: to collaborate with 50 countries, involving 500 foreign research institutions and 5,000 international scientific personnel to develop an international lunar scientific research station. This initiative underscores China's strategic use of subnational collaborative diplomacy, recently illustrated by an agreement with Hungary. More details can be found in Andrew Jones' report on Space News.

In a related development, Kazakhstan has joined China's International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) Moon base program. During Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Kazakhstan on July 3, 2024, the two countries signed 30 cooperation documents, including a memorandum of cooperation on the ILRS and mutual commercial use of each country’s spaceports. A joint statement from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs highlighted the countries' support for exchanges and cooperation between their aerospace agencies and enterprises. This agreement aims to promote mutually beneficial cooperation in the Moon and deep space, and reception and exchange of remote sensing data.”. This partnership is a significant step in China's efforts to enhance international collaboration in space exploration. Further background and analysis can be accessed in Andrew Jones' detailed report here.

More information on Wu Weiren’s interview here. The full report by Andrew Jones on China's ILRS Moon base program here.

A Chinese study of landing sites of the Chang’e-6 lunar farside sample return mission from the Apollo basin

A year ago on 31 July 2023, Nature Astronomy published an open access Chinese study of landing sites of the Chang’e-6 lunar farside sample return mission from the Apollo basin.The study is worth revisiting to understand the reasons behind the choice of the lunar farside South Pole–Aitken (SPA) basin in the southern part of the Apollo basin, a site that provides access to a diversity of SPA material. The collection of lunar farside SPA ejecta fragments, possible mantle material and young (roughly 2.40?Gyr-year-old) and/or old (roughly 3.43?Gyr-year-old) basaltic material, is expected to provide important guidance for future in situ farside sample collection and deepen our understanding of the evolution of the Moon.

Remember chemistry class? Chang'e-5 2020 samples lead Chinese researchers to discover ULM-1, a new lunar mineral crystal enriched with water molecules and ammonium. Time to update your tablettes on NPK fertilizers!

The fact that Chinese scientists have found water molecules in lunar soil samples collected by the Chang’e-5 mission in 2020 isn't news. What is new is that researchers from the Institute of Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, along with scholars from several renowned Chinese universities, have discovered a new lunar mineral crystal – which they coined ULM-1 - enriched with water molecules and ammonium, and devoid of any past interactions with Earth, as summarised in this CGTN video. So this is really a "made in the Moon" new type of hydrated mineral, and because it contains ammonium, one of the three main precursors for agricultural fertilisers (the other two being potassium and phosphorus, whose traces can also be found on the Moon), this is an encouraging indication these resources could be used to grow food. This has been reported in Chinese and foreign media here, here, and here. The original research was published in Nature on 16 July 2024 under the title "Evidence of a hydrated mineral enriched in water and ammonium molecules in the Chang’e-5 lunar sample." Two previous research papers published by Nature in 2022 on the Chang'e 5 2020 lunar samples which hinted at water content in some form of lunar minerals are available in open access: published on 14 June 2022 is "Evidence of water on the lunar surface from Chang’E-5 in-situ spectra and returned samples" ?and published on 10 September 2022 is "Chang’E-5 samples reveal high water content in lunar minerals". Therefore the merit of the 16 July 2024 publication is its progress in certifying the molecular structure of the new lunar hydrated mineral ULM-1 as being (NH4)MgCl3·6H2O, whereas NH4 is the ammonium part and a precursor for fertilizers used in plant growth and cultivation, combined with potassium and phosphorus. It is also known in the trade as NPK for Nitrogen (and its compounds urea, ammonium, and nitrate), Phosphate, and Potash (in the table of elements, K stands for Kalium which means Potassium).

Jacqueline Feldscher:?How Artemis Got Its Name

In a concise piece for Payload, Managing Editor?Jacqueline Feldscher recalls the back story of how the Artemis programme got its name back in 2019. An informative tale on how politics, branding, consumer marketing, and international collaboration came together. That dynamic created a precedent that would make Artemis "un-cancelable" regardless of which parties control the White House and the two houses of Congress. Spoiler: it appears that decision makers didn't even look at alternative names...

US Senate appropriators say spending bill includes a NASA budget increase and protecting the Artemis program

In?the US, the House and Senate keep haggling on the Fiscal Year 2025 budget, as they push their respective funding proposals, including on items as essential as the space program. This is complicated by the fact that the November 2024 general election introduces more uncertainty, since there could be some change of party control at both the executive and legislative level.?Practically, the House and Senate bills will have to be reconciled at some point in a synthetic bill that combines some or all separate spending proposals by either houses of Congress. For the time being, the position of the Senate is to increase the NASA budget and "protect" the Artemis lunar exploration program. Is that sufficient? More details on this protracted process are available in this Jeff Foust article for Space News.

Tim Fernholz: SPACETIDE - the rise of Japan's commercial space industry - funding and talent acquisition for Moon exploration

Members of the?GEGSLA, MVA, and COSPAR ecosystems participated in the July 2024 SPACETIDE conference in Tokyo. In a piece for Payload, Tim Fernholz assesses the rise of Japan's commercial space industry in Asia-Pacific and globally. This rise is particularly relevant in the lunar exploration field, where there is a blatant need to tackle funding and talent acquisition. Tim Fernholz reports as follows:?"Takeshi Hakamada, the CEO and founder of ispace, which will make its second attempt to land on the Moon later this year, raised a more than $90M Series A in 2017—an impressive accomplishment but one he considers “the maximum” in Japan’s VC market. That’s one reason his company sought to tap public markets in 2023. (...)?Hakamada, the ispace founder, has another kind of business education in mind. He’s familiar with a particular trap that comes with hiring space engineers, who want to build the coolest fully-featured technology without always thinking about the business implications. But he also knows that the space sector needs outside of the box thinking.?“They are afraid to fail,” Hakamada told Payload of traditional space companies. “Failure is important for success. If you have been in the industry ten or twenty years, the only idea is the obsolete or the never tried—a fresh mindset can come to the industry and try, some of them may succeed.”

Astrobotic: VOLT and VSAT/TVAC, two important updates in July 2024

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No,?VOLT and VSAT/TVAC are not Klingon language words, but two important Astrobotic updates in July 2024.? VOLT, a key element of the company’s LunaGrid platform for lunar surface power, completed SLOPE testing at NASA Glenn Research Center. Astrobotic is one step closer to establishing a lunar power grid with the initiation of a summer-long test campaign for its VSAT Optimized for Lunar Traverse (VOLT). VOLT is a specialized lunar rover equipped with a vertical solar array designed to drive across the Moon, and harness solar energy to charge a variety of lunar surface assets like habitats, rovers, and science instruments at lunar south pole. ?

Following?VOLT, Astrobotic got in gear with its Vertical Solar Array Technology (VSAT). VSAT is a key technology that will be used to harness solar energy for Astrobotic's ?commercial lunar power grid, and it is being prepped to enter thermal vacuum (TVAC) testing in Chamber A at NASA’s?Johnson Space Center. Astrobotic plans to unveil the fully-assembled VOLT engineering unit during the annual Keystone Space Conference, which is scheduled for October 28-29, 2024, in Pittsburgh, PA.

Taking a look at China's international sharing process of?lunar samples collected by Chang'e missions

According to the State Council Information Office of the People's Republic of China, the Chang'e-6 mission collected nearly 2kg, or 1,935.3 grams of samples from the far side of the Moon. The question having recently resurfaced, Christophe Bosquillon takes a look at China's international sharing process of lunar samples collected by Chang'e missions.?

In principle, China welcomes scientists from around the world to study lunar rock samples from the historic Chang’e-6 mission. Scientists worldwide were encouraged “to jointly carry out scientific research on lunar samples and data”, said Bian Zhigang, vice-administrator of the China National Space Administration (CNSA). ?The Chang’e-6 lunar probe successfully landed back on Earth in late June 2024 after collecting rock samples from the Moon’s far side – making China the first country to do so. Liu Yunfeng, head of international cooperation at the CNSA, said the space agency had set up an application process for international scientists who want to take part in the research.?“China welcomes scientific researchers from all countries to apply in accordance with the relevant procedures and share the benefits,” Liu said.?

In 2023, the CNSA announced its framework of “Rules for Management of International Cooperation in Lunar Samples and Scientific Data" that can be found here in its entirety including the Annexes. The CNSA, together with the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), also held an “Access to China’s Lunar Exploration Program” seminar, during which officials from foreign embassies in China and international organizations were invited to visit the lunar sample storage and processing facilities in the National Astronomical Observatories of China under the CAS, the overall unit for the ground application system of the Chang'e-5 mission. The above framework on lunar sample management was introduced to participants in the activity, which were attended by representatives from France, Russia, the European Union (EU), the Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization (APSCO) and other countries and international organizations. Drafted by the CNSA, the framework on Moon sample management includes "Procedures for requesting lunar samples" and "Procedures for Requesting Scientific Data of Lunar and Deep Space Exploration Programs of China National Space Administration." It covers general provisions concerning the preservation, management, and usage of lunar samples, as?well as detailed rules for information release, borrowing, distribution, use and return of moon samples.

The CNSA's Lunar Exploration and Space Engineering Center (LESEC) is the entity that has been entrusted by the administration to carry out the management of lunar samples.?The lunar samples are stored at the CNSA and its designated curatorial agencies. The main curatorial agency is the National Astronomical Observatories of the CAS, and a backup curatorial agency is also established. LESEC has produced a template of agreement, including a 6 page document titled ?"Annex 3 - Lunar Sample Loan Agreement " which can be downloaded from the above CNSA link.?

CNSA and LESEC stipulate that the main curatorial agency shall keep the lunar samples for a period of not more than six months after receiving them, and conduct preliminary sample handling to form relevant information according to different basic uses.?After the end of the above (initial) sample handling period, LESEC will publish lunar sample information to the public through a data information platform, and update the sample information dynamically according to the status of sample requests, the framework says.?

In terms of international cooperation, the document stated that the management and use of lunar samples shall comply with relevant international conventions that the People's Republic of China has established or adopted, and that the CNSA encourages lunar sample-based joint international research, and supports the international sharing of science results.

“According to basic uses, lunar samples are divided into four types in principle: permanently stored samples, permanently stored backup samples, research samples, and samples for public beneficial activities, of which permanently stored samples and permanently stored backup samples are sealed and maintained in a pristine state as original samples, research samples are used for scientific investigation and analysis, and the samples for public beneficial activities are used for activities such as exhibition, public outreach, and education,” the framework says, while adding specifics on storage conditions depending on the use being made of samples.

What that means practically for international organisations is that applications for samples centralised in China will be reviewed every 6 months by CNSA and LESEC. According to Space News it?is expected that domestic scientific research institutions will be able to make applications for samples after six months, while samples will be opened to international applications two years later. However it is unclear how things will pan out for US organisations. Bian Zhigang, vice-administrator of the China National Space Administration (CNSA) said the U.S. should remove hurdles, starting with the Wolf Amendment, that forbids US-China cooperation in space.?“If the U.S. side sincerely hopes to carry out normal space exchanges with China, it must take practical measures to remove the obstacles. As for China’s future space plans, they will be carried out at China’s own pace for peaceful use. We’re always eager to develop equal and mutually beneficial cooperation in an open and inclusive attitude,” Bian said.

CGTN has produced a press conference and more reports that make the Moon look really interesting. CGTN Global Live: Press conference on Chang'e-6 mission of China's lunar exploration program. And two reports by CGTN ?Europe: Chang'e-6 Returns from the Dark Side of the Moon and Shooting for the Moon?

US House’s $25.2B NASA spending bill fully supports lunar activities under the CLPS program

The US House unveiled a $25.2B Funding Proposal that among other things directs NASA to study asteroid and orbital debris missions. But the lunar good news are that lawmakers expressed strong support for NASA’s work with the commercial sector to deliver cargo to the lunar surface under the CLPS program, which the bill fully funds.? As specified in the bill report?“The Committee notes the importance of CLPS funding remaining at no less than the fiscal year 2024 enacted level, to grow the space economy and to create lasting, affordable commercial operations on the Moon. The Committee emphasizes the importance of the CLPS program in maintaining American leadership in space, developing a domestic space industrial base for the U.S.’s return to the Moon.”?Funding details are covered in Payload and SpaceNews.

MDA Space awarded C$1Bn contract for robotic arm system on the lunar Gateway

MDA Space has been awarded a C$1 billion contract from the Canadian Space Agency for the next phases of the Canadarm3 program. The most advanced space robotics system ever conceived, Canadarm3 will be used aboard Gateway, a key element of the Artemis program. “Building on the legacy of strategic investments in space robotics, Canadarm3 showcases our commitment to innovation,” said Fran?ois-Philippe Champagne, Canada’s minister of innovation, science and industry, whose portfolio includes the Canadian Space Agency, in a statement. “We are entering an exciting period where Canadarm3 will take shape and come to life on our production floor,” Mike Greenley, chief executive of MDA Space, said in a statement. “This major milestone also reflects our strategy in action as we build our significant backlog and bring to market a new generation of commercial space products and services.”

Leonard David: How the Applied Physics Laboratory is tackling Artemis Moon exploration

Leonard David, in a piece for Space News titled "How the Applied Physics Laboratory is tackling Artemis Moon exploration"?looks at why and how today, a combination of scientific, economic, and security interests drives a renewed focus on lunar missions. “This decade’s approach by NASA is very different than Apollo,” said Robert Braun, head of the Space Exploration Sector at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Maryland. “After communications and internet, I think the next market is propellant,” Braun said. “I think a gas station at the moon could be a viable operation for commercial spacecraft.”?Wes Fuhrman, APL’s Lunar Surface Innovation Initiative Lead, said that these and other ambitious plans to return to and stay on the moon will require aggressive leveraging of the U.S. and its partners’ technology base. Fuhrman said that a NASA STMD “Shortfall Prioritization” document is forthcoming. “That will allow us to see the problem-space more clearly so that the community can deliver the right infrastructure that will evolve to be the backbone of enduring lunar presence,” he said.

Jeff Foust: NASA assessment suggests potential additional delays for Artemis 3 lunar lander

Jeff Foust, in a piece for Space News titled "NASA assessment suggests potential additional delays for Artemis 3 lunar lander" reset expectations for the Artemis 3 lander readiness. As NASA pushes ahead with a crewed lunar landing on the Artemis 3 mission in September 2026, the agency’s own analysis estimates a nearly one-in-three chance the lander will be at least a year and a half late.?That assessment came from a confirmation review for the Human Landing System (HLS) Initial Capability project, which is supporting the development of SpaceX’s Starship lunar lander that will be used on Artemis 3. The confirmation review, known in agency parlance as Key Decision Point (KDP) C, sets cost and schedule commitments for NASA projects.?The confirmation review, which took place in December 2023, set a schedule baseline of February 2028 for that project at a 70% joint confidence level. That means there is a 70% chance that Starship will be ready for a lunar landing — a milestone formally known as lunar orbit checkout review — by February 2028.

The Hungarian Solar Physics Foundation sign an MoU with China’s Deep Space Exploration Laboratory (DSEL) in the ILRS context

China keeps leveraging subnational collaborative diplomacy for the purpose of developing the ILRS and furthering its international Moon base plans. As of July 2024, the Hungarian Solar Physics Foundation just signed an MoU with China’s Deep Space Exploration Laboratory (DSEL) in the ILRS context. On the morning of July 12, 2024, Professor Fay Siebenbogen, Chairman of the Hungarian Heliophysics Foundation, led a delegation to visit the Deep Space Exploration Laboratory Hefei Headquarters. Wu Yanhua, Chief Designer of the Deep Space Exploration Major Project, and Hu Chaobin, Secretary of the Party Committee and Deputy Director of the Deep Space Exploration Laboratory, met with Chairman Fay Siebenbogen and his delegation. ? Chief Designer WuYanhua warmly welcomed the visit of Chairman Fay Hibenbogen and his delegation, and introduced the relevant situation of the deep space exploration laboratory and the progress of major deep space exploration tasks. Chairman Fay Hibenbogen appreciated China's achievements in the field of deep space exploration, and gave a detailed introduction to the basic situation, international cooperation and future plans of the Hungarian Heliophysics Foundation. Both sides expressed their willingness to strengthen cooperation in the field of deep space exploration.?After the meeting, the two sides signed the "Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the International Lunar Research Station". Relevant personnel from the Laboratory's International Cooperation and Exchange Center, the Deep Space Science Academy, and the University of Science and Technology of China attended the meeting. This is reported on the DSEL account on the Weixin (We Chat) platform. Space News China expert Andrew Jones also mentions it on his X account and in his ILRS report cited elsewhere in this edition.?

President Xi's leadership for lunar exploration and international cooperation

Upon the complete success of the Chang'e-6 mission, which brought back the world's first samples from the far side of the moon, President Xi Jinping promptly extended his congratulations, quoted in English in China Daily. "The outstanding contributions you have made will always be remembered by the country and the people," Xi told all those who participated in the mission in a congratulatory message. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, has always kept the country's lunar exploration endeavors in his mind. For three consecutive years from 2019 to 2021, Xi highlighted the lunar exploration achievements in his New Year speech. "Great undertakings are based on innovation, which is crucial for our future," Xi said in February 2019 when meeting representatives of space scientists and engineers who participated in the research and development of the Chang'e-4 mission. Noting that exploring the vast universe is humanity's common dream, Xi has stressed the importance of conducting international space cooperation and making contributions to the well-being of all mankind. China's lunar exploration program stands as evidence of the country's consistent promotion of international cooperation in the field of space exploration. China welcomes international applications for the lunar samples brought back by the Chang'e-5 and Chang'e-6 missions for scientific researches. Scientists from countries such as Australia, Russia, France, the United States, Britain, and Sweden have taken part in the research of the Chang'e-5 lunar samples. Chang'e-6 has carried four international payloads, respectively from the European Space Agency (ESA), France, Italy, and Pakistan. Chang'e-7 will carry six international scientific instruments, and Chang'e-8 will offer 200 kilograms of international payload capacity and has garnered over 30 applications. Xi's guidance and concern on the lunar exploration program has inspired numerous scientists and engineers, who are committed to advancing major space projects, including deep space exploration, and enhancing international exchanges and cooperation. "We will continue to foster independent innovation capabilities and improve the independent innovation system, so as to propel bigger and further steps in space exploration," said Zhang Gao, an expert involved in the development of the Chang'e-6 probe from the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.

Farnborough: UK?GOV announces ￡33 million boost for national space programme and further follows-up on the Aqualunar challenge

At the occasion of the Farnborough air and space show, week of 22 July 2024, the?UK GOV announced ￡33 million boost for national space programme.?The UK government will also follow-up on the Aqualunar challenge, on which this newsletter reported months ago. The UK Space Agency was slated to announce late July its finalists under the global ￡1.2 million Aqualunar Challenge.?This global challenge is focused on finding innovative solutions for human habitation in space, specifically though water purification beneath the Moon’s surface.?The ten finalists will each receive ￡30,000 in funding to expand their initial proposal, with the eventual final three winners of the challenge assigned a further ￡300,000 each, as well as“ample” non-financial support in the areas of technology, design, commercialisation, mentoring and networking. More details in this Orbital Today reporting by Hannah Dowling.

COSPAR 2024 45th Scientifc Assembly in Busan: South Korea’s new space agency outlines plans, Moon included

The COSPAR 2024 45th Scientifc Assembly took place in Busan on 13-21 July. This represented a major opportunity for the newly created South Korean space agency to take centre stage and outlines its plans, Moon included. The Korea Aerospace Administration, or KASA, having started operations on 27 May 2024, intends to coordinate and expand space activities in the country. At the COSPAR 2024 opening ceremony, Youngbin Yoon, administrator of KASA, mentioned the following: KASA "serves as the control tower for national space affairs andinternational cooperation,” with the goal of creating an aerospace economy in South Korea. That work will be focused on space transportation, satellite, space exploration and aviation. KASA has long-term goals, Yoon added, of sending a robotic lander to the Moon in 2032 and another to Mars in 2045. John Lee, KASA’s deputy administrator who previously worked for three decades at NASA, added a bit on international cooperation: KASA, responsible for South Korea’s space policy development and overseeing commercial space activities in the country, will also be involved in "a lot of bilateral talks that will be going on as well as multilateral cooperation that will involve other countries.” The Moon is paramount for these talks that included the first bilateral meeting between KASA and NASA, held July 15 on the sidelines of the COSPAR conference. Yoon met with NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy to discuss how to build upon past cooperation between NASA and Korean organizations, which included flying a NASA instrument on the Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter spacecraft. More details in Jeff Foust's report for Space News here.

NASA’s CAPSTONE is testing “Autopilot” software suite for cislunar operations

NASA’s CAPSTONE is testing “Autopilot” software suite for cislunar operations. CAPSTONE stands for NASA’s Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment, and looks like a small kitchen appliance-sized cubesat weighing merely 25 kg. Launched from New Zealand in June 2022 aboard a Rocket Lab Electron rocket, CAPSTONE is now operational in Near Rectilinear Halo Orbit (NRHO) around the Moon. NRHO is the orbit where NASA’ will insert its cislunar Gateway space station as part of the Artemis program. Gateway will allow crews to access the lunar south pole, and serve as an outpost for the Moon, Mars, and beyond. More details are available in this Leonard David piece for Space News.

ESA's Juice: using the Moon and Earth gravity on its way to Jupiter via Venus

ESA’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (Juice) is using the Moon and Earth gravity to decelerate first then further accelerate on the way to Jupiter via Venus. This solution is the only viable alternative, considering the oversized amount of propellant it would take for Juice to fly to Jupiter directly. Juice will return to the Earth vicinity on 19–20 August, with flight controllers guiding the spacecraft first past the Moon and then past Earth itself. This ‘braking’ manoeuvre will take Juice on a shortcut to Jupiter via Venus. More details are available here, courtesy of ESA.

Space and Moon policy to remain stable during the next US presidential term

Jacqueline Feldscher, Managing Editor at Payload, provided a balanced analysis in an article titled 'Space Policy in a Second Trump Term'. ?While one may be reluctant to consider the outcome of the upcoming US presidential election as a self-fulfilling prophecy, it is an establsihed fact that the incumbent Biden Administration kept mostly intact the decisions implemented by the first Trump term. From commercial space to security to lunar activities. in the end, it is a matter of budget and policy execution. We agree with the Payload assessment that space policy in a second Trump term would remain ambitious on commerce and security. According to Greg Autry (a professor at ASU who worked on the NASA Agency Review Team when Trump was preparing to take office in 2016 and also served as the White House liaison at NASA), a second Trump Administration’s top priority would likely be?“kicking Artemis into high gear” and ensuring Artemis III—the first crewed mission to the lunar surface since Apollo—remains on track to avoid getting beaten by the Chinese."?In other words, should Trump win in November 2024, his Administration would likely Make The Moon Great Again.? ?

Second SLS core stage ready to ship to Florida for the Artemis 2 mission in 2025

It's not always SpaceX and Elon, at least not all the time. The SLS is still in the game to send payloads to the Moon. This month of July 2024, NASA rolled out the second core stage for the Space Launch System rocket on July 16 to ship it to Florida for the Artemis 2 mission next year 2025. “The delivery of the SLS core stage for Artemis 2 to Kennedy Space Center signals a shift from manufacturing to launch readiness as teams continue to make progress on hardware for all major elements for future SLS rockets,” said John Honeycutt, NASA SLS program manager, in a statement.?The stage, while largely complete, will undergo some additional outfitting once at KSC. It will then be attached to its two solid rocket boosters and interim cryogenic upper stage inside the Vehicle Assembly Building, followed by the Orion spacecraft for the Artemis 2 mission. That mission is currently scheduled for launch no earlier than September 2025. More details are available courtesy of Jeff Foust in Space News.

Ariane 6 successful maiden flight reopens Europe's access to space and the Moon

?Ariane 6 successful maiden flight has just reopened Europe's access to space and the Moon.?In the short and mid-term till the early 2030's, Ariane 6 business is mostly about Earth orbital markets. Yet, Ariane 6 will eventually play a role in carrying European and global payloads to the Moon. Stay tuned!

NASA ends VIPER project, but continues Moon exploration

Following a comprehensive internal review, NASA announced on 17 July 2024 its intent to discontinue development of its VIPER (Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover) project. However Astrobotic's Griffin lunar lander will still be launching to the Moon, targeting a Q3 2025 liftoff and carrying a test dummy payload, rather than the original rover. Astrobotic's remain on-track for more capability validation as part of the CLPS program. More details are available here, courtesy of Jeff Foust and Space News.

MoU between Moon Village Association and Deep Space Exploration Laboratory

On June 17th, the Moon Village Association has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Deep Space Exploration Laboratory (DSEL) for cooperation in the context of the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS). ?In the coming periond, the GEGSLA Working Groups will be involved in supporting the signed MoU to include ILRS in the current discussions.

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.

Watch the replay of Space News "Webinar - Race to the Moon"?

On 02 July 2024, Christophe Bosquillon attended a Space News "Webinar - Race to the Moon" with an all-star lineup: Mike Gold, Chief Growth Officer, Redwire ; Douglas Terrier, Associate Director for Strategy, NASA Johnson Space Center ; Yao Song, Co-CEO, Co-founder, Orienspace ; Blaine Curcio, Founder, Orbital Gateway, Consulting ; Namrata Goswami, Author, Professor, Founder. The moderator and Space News Host was David Ariosto. The recording is available here. The Space News Host was generous with time, as the discussion and Q&A continued a good 20 mn after the recording had stopped. This webinar was definitely worth attending.?

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.

Coming in October 18th: 7th GEGSLA Operational Meeting

The Global Experts Group on Sustainable Lunar Activities (GEGSLA) will hold its 7th operational meeting on October 18, 2024, from 14:00 to 18:00 CEST, in the margins of IAC 2024 in Milano, Italy. This physical gathering will bring together leading experts and stakeholders to discuss the ongoing efforts and future strategies for sustainable lunar exploration and utilization.

The meeting highlights the importance of international cooperation and strategic planning in ensuring the sustainable exploration and utilization of lunar resources, setting the stage for significant advancements in the coming years.

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]