Welcome to the GEGSLA Monthly Newsletter!
Global Expert Group on Sustainable Lunar Activities (GEGSLA)
We are delighted to introduce the 14th 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.
Switzerland, Sweden and Slovenia join the Artemis Accords
In a significant week for international space collaboration, Slovenia, Switzerland, and Sweden have officially become the 37th, 38th, and 39th signatories of the Artemis Accords, respectively. This series of signings underscores a robust commitment from multiple nations to engage in the peaceful, responsible exploration of space, adhering to the principles that safeguard the use of space for the benefit of all humanity.
Switzerland formalized its participation on 15 April 2024 at NASA Headquarters in Washington, with Swiss Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin underscoring the nation's commitment to sustainable space endeavors. Following closely, Sweden also declared its accession on 16 April , emphasizing the strategic enhancement of its space research and industry, which aligns with its defense capabilities .
Slovenia's accession was finalized on 19 April during a U.S.-Slovenia strategic dialogue in Ljubljana. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson hailed the accession as a milestone in the golden era of space exploration, with Slovenia affirming its dedication to the values and rules that govern the peaceful use of outer space .
These new partnerships through the Artemis Accords mark a significant stride towards broadening the coalition of nations committed to advancing space exploration in a cooperative and sustainable manner.
Expanding Global Participation in the International Lunar Research Station
The International Lunar Research Station (ILRS), led by China and Russia, has seen significant expansion with new members from across the globe expressing interest or formalizing their involvement. Notably, Thailand's entry into the ILRS was analyzed in-depth by Christophe Bosquillon for SpaceWatch.Global , highlighting Thailand's development into a formidable space nation within ASEAN through robust partnerships with Japan, South Korea, and China, which ultimately paved its path toward lunar research.
Following Thailand, the ILRS welcomed Nicaragua alongside the Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization and the Arab Union for Astronomy and Space Sciences. This inclusion was announced during the prestigious Space Day of China 2024 , marking a significant milestone in the project's reach and influence.
Further extending its global collaboration, the ILRS has brought on board Ethiopia’s Space Science and Geospatial Institute and the Kenya Advanced Institute of Science and Technology . These institutes signed memorandums of understanding in April, joining a growing list of over a dozen agencies and organizations involved in this ambitious lunar project.
In a strategic move diverging from Western-led initiatives, NATO member Turkey has also expressed a strong interest in joining the ILRS over the US-led Artemis program. This application, confirmed by Anatoly Petrukovich of the Russian Academy of Sciences, represents a new chapter in Turkey’s aspirations for a significant role in space research and exploration.
These developments reflect the ILRS's increasingly diverse and global framework, involving nations and organizations from various regions in collaborative lunar research and exploration, enhancing the project's scope and potential impact on international space activities.
?China on track for crewed moon landing by 2030
While in the process of successfully sending three astronauts to the Tiangong space station , China has reaffirmed its ambitions in orbit, cislunar space, and on the Moon . China's space agency made it crystal clear that it is on track for crewed Moon landing by 2030. China's human spaceflight agency announced that it is on target to reach its goal of putting its astronauts on the moon before the end of the decade .
Saudi Arabia Launch New Center for Space Futures
Saudi Arabia has announced the establishment of the Center for Space Futures . This initiative marks a significant step in fostering global cooperation to boost the thriving space economy . Located in Saudi Arabia, the new center aims to act as a global platform, promoting public-private discussions on space collaboration and its impact on the world.
The Center for Space Futures seeks to unite stakeholders from various sectors to formulate policies that enhance the benefits of the space economy while addressing the risks associated with emerging space technologies. With the global space economy projected to reach $1.8 trillion by 2035, the center will play a crucial role in shaping the future of international space policy and innovation.
The mission of the Center for Space Futures is to advance local and global collaboration in the space sector, integrating best practices to drive innovation and responsible development. By connecting stakeholders across different sectors, the center aims to co-design and pilot outputs such as policies, principles, and regulatory frameworks that maximize the benefits of the space economy. The launch of the Center for Space Futures is a forward-looking move that promises to leverage global networks to enhance the benefits and mitigate the risks of new space technologies.
Passive payloads to the Moon, from artwork to cremated human remains: is that really a good thing?
Two recent Op-Ed have looked at the issue of passive "commercial" payload to the Moon, from artwork to cremated human remains. One is titled "Koons on the Moon? Artists’ crucial role in shaping humanity’s image on Earth and beyond " and considers that "as we find ourselves on the precipice of lunar travel, we must be thoughtful about how we as a society wish to proceed." Another one, unambiguously titled "Putting cremains on the moon is disrespectful – and bad policy " states that "the issue of sending cremains to a celestial body that belongs to all of us is not a private matter to be settled solely by these (commercial) companies." Christophe Bosquillon has discussed this with several concerned citizens.?We agree on some basic questions: where do we draw a line between, on one hand, the display of artefacts or cremains on the Moon, from the perspective of a humanity with diverse?cultural and social values and beliefs ; and, on the other hand, the perspective of an artificially created future commercial waste management problem, at a moment when we haven't even agreed globally yet on environmental regulations in the context of sustainable lunar activities.?As arguments go back and forth, our readers will be judges of what should be considered as responsible behavior in-between legit commercial practices and their unintended consequences. What is the trade-off for passive cash cow payloads with zero lunar exploratory value?
The White House directs NASA to develop a lunar time standard
A new White House policy instructs NASA to develop a strategy for a new time standard for use on cislunar missions for improved navigation. The "Memorandum for departments and agencies participating in the white house cislunar technolgy strategy interagency working group " outlines the Biden-Harris Administration’s policy to establish time standards at and around celestial bodies other than Earth to advance the National Cislunar S&T Strategy. Federal agencies will develop celestial time standardization with an initial focus on the lunar surface and missions operating in Cislunar space, with sufficient traceability to support missions to other celestial bodies.
Ex-SpaceX engineer Jaret Matthews narrates how he founded lunar venture Astrolab?
Ars Technica spoke with Astrolab founder, Jaret Matthews, about how his time working on SpaceX’s Starship program led him to starting the lunar-tech business . Matthews envisioned Starships delivering truckloads of cargo to the Moon or Mars:?"if we’re really going to go there, the first thing we’re going to have to do is set up a bunch of equipment. I left SpaceX knowing the width of the Starship door, and we made the biggest thing that could pass through it."?This turned out to be a prototype rover. Developing the pathfinder was part of Astrolab's ethos, embracing a spiral development model of design, build, test, break, and start over when it comes to hardware development. It's a lesson that Matthews and most other employees at the company—of Astrolab's 30 employees, more than 80 percent have SpaceX backgrounds—learned building reusable rockets and spacecraft.
ESA and ISRO explore increased cooperation, starting with lunar exploration
ESA's Director General Joseph Aschbacher hosted ISRO's Chairman, Dr. S. Somanath, at the ESA Council held late March 2024. It was a milestone occasion for Delegates to learn more about current and future plans for ESA-ISRO cooperation. In J. Aschbacher's words, "What India is accomplishing in space – especially in Lunar exploration – is astonishing. The strategic importance of strengthening ties and deepening cooperation with international partners cannot be underestimated." Watch the full replay of the post-Council Media Briefing here .
?ispace-U.S Launch Data Relay Service Using Two Relay Satellites
ispace technologies U.S., inc . has announced the official launch of a new data relay service enabled by two relay satellites that will tentatively deploy during ispace-U.S.’s Mission 3 in 2026. SpaceX will also be tentatively providing the launch service . ispace-U.S. released the details for the relay service at the Lunar Surface Innovation Consortium 2024 Spring Meeting, which the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory hosted. The two lunar relay satellites will enable communications to and from the Earth, and the APEX 1.0 lunar lander which will touch down in the Schr?dinger Basin on the Lunar Far Side, a large impact crater near the Moon’s South Pole. ?
Details of the NASA-JAXA astronauts and rover agreement obtained
The Freedom of Information Act allowed US media to obtain a copy of the NASA-JAXA agreement to put JAXA astronauts on the Moon in exchange for a pressurized lunar rover . The agreement shows that NASA is responsible for buying the rocket that will get Japan’s rover to the Moon in 2031, and furnishing most of its life support systems. Crews traversing the Moon will operate, as onboard the ISS, under a single mission commander.
Next Step Toward the Moon: LZH and TU Berlin partner with Astrobotic
Astrobotic is partnering on MOONRISE, a project in which researchers are working to bring 3D printing to the Moon. Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V. (LZH) has contracted with Astrobotic for a flight to the Moon , set to take place in late 2026. ? LZH is also collaborating with project partner TU Berlin, focusing on optimizing the laser melting process. The collaboration is experimenting with synthetic regolith from TU Berlin and training the AI for lunar deployment. In the MOONRISE project, LZH and TU Berlin researchers are also exploring ways to manufacture infrastructure on the Moon using available materials.
Japanese and U.S. Governments Sign Deal to Send 2 Japanese Astronauts to the Moon; Toyota to Contribute to Artemis Program with Lunar Cruiser
Japan and the United States have agreed that two Japanese astronauts will stand on the Moon as part of the U.S.-led Artemis lunar exploration program, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida confirmed after his summit meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden on 10 April 2024. The two Japanese astronauts will potentially becoming the first non-Americans to set foot on the lunar surface. This is part of a larger agreement signed by NASA Administrator Bill Nelson and Japan’s Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) Masahito Moriyama. The purpose of the agreement is to advance sustainable human exploration of the Moon . As a result, Japan will design, develop, and operate a pressurized rover for crewed and uncrewed exploration on the Moon. On the other hand, NASA will provide the launch and delivery of the rover to the Moon as well as two opportunities for Japanese astronauts to travel to the lunar surface.
China’s Queqiao-2 relay satellite ready to support lunar far side sample mission
China’s Queqiao-2 relay satellite is now ready to support lunar far side sample mission . The Queqiao-2 satellite has completed functional and performance tests in lunar orbit, clearing China to launch its upcoming lunar far side sample return mission . The spacecraft conducted successful communication tests with Chang’e-4 mission spacecraft on the far side of the moon April 6. This was followed by a test April 8-9 Beijing time with the Chang’e-6 spacecraft back on Earth, which is yet to launch. That confirms the operation and performance of Queqiao-2 is the final step before China launches its complex Chang’e-6 mission. The planned 53-day is a more ambitious follow-up to the 2020 Chang’e-5 sample return mission which collected 1,731 grams of lunar material from the Moon’s near side.
NASA may alter Artemis III to have Starship and Orion dock in low-Earth orbit
According to Eric Berger, senior space editor at Ars Technical, Multiple sources have confirmed that NASA is studying alternatives to the planned Artemis III landing of two astronauts on the Moon, nominally scheduled for September 2026, due to concerns about hardware readiness and mission complexity . Under one of the options, astronauts would launch into low-Earth orbit inside an Orion spacecraft and rendezvous there with a Starship vehicle, separately launched by SpaceX. During this mission, similar to Apollo 9, a precursor to the Apollo 11 lunar landing, the crew would validate the ability of Orion and Starship to dock and test habitability inside Starship. The crew would then return to Earth. In another option NASA is considering, a crew would launch in Orion and flyto a small space station near the Moon, the Lunar Gateway, and then return to Earth. While NASA will neither confirm nor deny these considerations, the agency made it clear to policymakers that it is holding its 11 main Artemis contractors accountable for their performance: "All partners must make every effort to perform on schedule to ensure that NASA can accomplish the agency's Moon to Mars exploration goals."
NASA Selects Companies to Advance Moon Mobility for Artemis Missions
NASA has selected Intuitive Machines, Lunar Outpost, and Venturi Astrolab to advance capabilities for a lunar terrain vehicle (LTV). The contract covers work to design and develop rovers that would be used by astronauts on Artemis missions starting with Artemis 5 at the end of the decade. The rovers would be provided by the companies to NASA as a service, in much the same way the agency is procuring spacesuits and lunar landers .?While the primary purpose of the LTV will be to transport astronauts across the lunar surface, NASA expects to also teleoperate the rover, allowing it to perform scientific investigations when astronauts are not present. ?
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ILOA Captures Stunning Moon Surface Images from ILO-X Aboard Intuitive Machines' Lander
In a groundbreaking achievement, the International Lunar Observatory Association (ILOA) based in Kamuela, Hawai’i, has received its first high-resolution images from the lunar surface. These images were captured by the ILO-X wide field-of-view imager aboard the Intuitive Machines' IM-1 Nova-C class lunar lander, Odysseus. The images, taken around 00:30 UTC on February 25, 2024, offer a breathtaking glimpse of the lunar landscape, including regolith, dust, and the Sun.
The ILO-X, a miniaturized imaging suite featuring dual-camera technology for both wide and narrow field views, managed to capture these detailed images just minutes before the lander's touchdown at the Moon's South Pole. The historic images showcase dramatic lunar craters and shadows, adding a new dimension to our understanding of the Moon's surface.
Steve Durst, ILOA Director, expressed profound gratitude to Intuitive Machines and Canadensys Aerospace Corporation for their professionalism and perseverance throughout this historic mission. "This mission not only advances our scientific capabilities but also brings us one step closer to our long-term goals of permanent lunar observation and communication," said Durst.
As part of the mission's success, ILOA has received a total of nine high-resolution images and 105 thumbnails, which will be shared publicly once internal processing is complete. There may also be additional last-minute imaging opportunities before the instruments are powered down.
This milestone is part of ILOA’s broader vision to establish a permanent astronomical presence on the Moon, facilitating long-term scientific exploration and observation. The successful image capture marks a significant step towards the future ILO-1 mission to Malapert Mountain, aiming to provide images of the Milky Way Galaxy to people worldwide.
UN OOSA acknowledges the role of MVA in leading to the creation of the International Moon Day
MVA President Dr. Giuseppe Reibaldi is pleased to confirm that, following a 2-years deliberation process, UNOOSA has decided to formally acknowledge the foundational leadership role of MVA in proposing, creating, and implementing the International Moon Day (IMD) . As a result, the section of the UNOOSA website related to the IMD is now including a direct reference to the MVA, with a mention as follows: "The UNGA's decision was made after a proposal by the Moon Village Association, which was endorsed by COPUOS". The conversations between MVA and the UNOOSA Director were led by Dorin Prunariu , who gets primary credit for this achievement. Congratulations to MVA, GEGSLA, and IMD members who participate into these team efforts. It is hoped that this link?will increase the visibility of MVA, GEGSLA, and IMD, and bring more initiatives, events, and sponsors!
PromoMoon 2024: first stage of evaluation of the 3rd PromoMoon Initiative’s applications completed. Top-7 projects with novel ideas relating to lunar technologies have been selected as of April 2024. Applicants are shown here in no particular order:
MVA together with the Kyiv-based Yuzhnoye state design office launched the PromoMoon initiative in 2022 to support ideas, solutions and products for lunar related technologies. Christophe Bosquillon , invited in February 2024 to join the?PromoMoon initiative evaluation committee, has started to review the 7 projects, and commented as follows: "Kudos to all participants and congratulations?to those who made it to the top 7 contenders. It's an honor to assess lunar projects by some of the most innovative people?from locations as diverse as Canada, Spain, Ukraine, Jordan, India,?and?Nepal. Each project is strongly relevant to some segment of lunar value chains. While we implement a rigorous evaluation methodology, we appreciate the creativity deployed by all teams. Such efforts at planetary scale will enable humanity to pull off this nascent lunar economy."
PromoMoon?evaluators?are due to provide feedback by 31st of May 2024. The Top-3 winners will then be announced at the earliest date possible.
Moon Village Association Successfully Co-Hosted Virtual Panel on Lunar Exploration and Climate Action
The Moon Village Association (MVA), in collaboration with Cosmic Citizen Trainings, Inc. ?and The Human Space Program , successfully hosted an impactful virtual panel event on April 22, Earth Day, which addressed the critical intersection of lunar exploration and climate action. This significant gathering marked a pivotal moment in global space discourse, focusing on the environmental impacts and opportunities of expanding lunar activities.
The event, titled "Making Space for The Environment: Climate Action + Lunar Exploration ," brought together a diverse group of experts from the fields of Earth and Lunar science, environmentalism, space industry, and policy and law. Discussions delved into the ecological ramifications of lunar exploration and its potential contributions to solving Earth's climate crisis.
Key discussion points included:
The involvement of the Moon Village Association highlighted its ongoing commitment to fostering international cooperation and sustainable development in space activities. This Earth Day event underscored the necessity of a harmonious approach to space exploration that benefits all of humanity while preserving the natural beauty of both Earth and the Moon.
Participants from around the globe joined the online event, contributing to a transformative discussion that aimed to shape the future of space exploration in a manner that honors our planet and its global community.
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.
Lunar Surface Innovation Consortium (LSIC) 2024 Spring meeting The Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory hosted this year's Lunar Surface Innovation Consortium (LSIC) Spring meeting , that took place on April 24th and 25th, 2024. The purpose of the LSIC is to harness the creativity, energy, and resources of the nation to help NASA keep the United States at the forefront of lunar exploration. LSIC operates in collaboration with the NASA Space Technology Mission Directorate under the Lunar Surface Innovation Initiative (LSII). LSIC fosters communications and collaborations among academia, industry, and Government. Members have expertise in LSII key capability areas. Recordings of the sessions are available 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.
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]