Welcome to the GEGSLA Monthly Newsletter!

We are delighted to introduce the 15th 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.

Slovakia, Lithuania, and Peru Join the Artemis Accords, Strengthening Global Cooperation in Space Exploration

In a significant boost to international space collaboration, Slovakia , Lithuania , and Peru have recently joined the Artemis Accords, bringing the total number of signatories to 42.

Slovakia formalized its commitment, with Minister of Education Tomá? Drucker authorized to sign the documents during his upcoming trip to the USA. Slovakia the 42nd member of the Artemis Accords . Drucker emphasized the agreements' role in reflecting 21st-century conditions, commercial space activities, and technological advancements. Slovakia sees the accords as a platform to enhance its cooperation in space research, development, and industry with the USA and other countries involved.

Lithuania officially became the 40th signatory on May 15, during a ceremony in Vilnius. Lithuanian Minister of Economy and Innovation, Au?rin? Armonait?, signed the accords in the presence of U.S. Ambassador Kara C. McDonald, coinciding with Vilnius Space Days. Armonait? highlighted the growth of Lithuania's space sector and the importance of the Artemis Accords in fostering a responsible, sustainable, and cooperative presence in space.

On May 30, 2024, Peru became the 41st signatory to the Artemis Accords at a ceremony at NASA Headquarters in Washington. Foreign Minister Javier González-Olaechea signed the Accords for Peru in the presence of Ambassador to the United States Alfredo Ferrero Diez Canseco, State Department Acting Assistant Secretary Jennifer R. Littlejohn, and NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. Peru's commitment underscores its dedication to furthering its bilateral relations with the United States and expanding its cooperation in space exploration.

The United States and Peru have a long history of working together on the global stage, and Peru's decision to join the Artemis Accords extends their collaboration to space exploration. This move is part of the broader commitment to support democratic values, promote inclusive economic prosperity, and strengthen regional security.

With the addition of Slovakia, Lithuania, and Peru, the Artemis Accords now have 42 signatories, including Angola, Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Czech Republic, Ecuador, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Poland, Republic of Korea, Romania, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, and Uruguay.

These commitments underscore a growing international consensus on the importance of collaboration in space exploration and the peaceful use of outer space.

Serbia joins the China-led International Lunar Research Station (ILRS)

President Xi Jinping's State Visit to Europe in early May 2024 took him and the First Lady to France, Serbia, and Hungary. In Serbia, the many agreements signed includes cooperation in the space domain, in particular with the China-led International Lunar Research Station (ILRS). Details are available here .

Please refer to “List of outcome documents of President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Serbia” - Section 2, Items 15 and 16: 15. “Memorandum of Understanding between the China National Space Administration and the Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation of the Republic of Serbia on Cooperation in the Field of Innovation in the Exploration and Peaceful Use of Outer Space” 16. “Memorandum of Understanding between the China National Space Administration and the Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation of the Republic of Serbia on Cooperation on the International Lunar Research Station”.

New Spanish-Chinese research: "Key factors in developing controlled closed ecosystems for lunar missions"

Green Moon Project, represented?by José María Ortega-Hernandez and his Spanish-Chinese team have just published a new research paper: "Key factors in developing controlled closed ecosystems for lunar missions" freely available here . The aim of this research is to explore the growth of crops on celestial bodies prior to human arrival. The paper outlines the creation of a novel capsule by Green Moon Project (GMP) designed to meet essential criteria for monitoring and enhancing crop cultivation on the lunar terrain, tackling key obstacles such as self-propagation, fluctuating light patterns, water provision, and monitoring germination and growth stages. The Center of Space Exploration (COSE) in China managed to sprout the first seed on another celestial body during the Chang’e 4 mission on the Moon in January 2019. This achievement means an important step in space agriculture and widens the biological research of crops that will sustain future crewed missions and human bases in space.

Artemis Accords Signatories Meet in Montreal for Annual Workshop on Space Exploration

The Artemis Accords signatories are set to meet in Montreal, Canada, this May 2024 to discuss best practices and guidelines for responsible and sustainable space exploration. These yearly meetings have a high attendance rate, with almost all signatory countries sending representatives. At last year’s meeting, officials developed a process for sharing information about missions, including data collection and dissemination. This process was immediately applied to the first two CLPS (Commercial Lunar Payload Services) missions based on the discussions held at these meetings.

Recently, NASA participated in the second international face-to-face workshop among Artemis Accords signatories , which featured space officials from two dozen nations focused on advancing the principles for the safe, peaceful, and responsible exploration of the Moon, Mars, and beyond. This year’s workshop was hosted by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) at their headquarters in Montreal from May 21-23. During the workshop, participants from 24 countries engaged in robust discussions and conducted a tabletop exercise centered on further defining and implementing key tenets, including considering views on non-interference, interoperability, and scientific data sharing among nations.

These meetings and workshops underscore the commitment of Artemis Accords signatories to fostering international cooperation in space exploration and ensuring that activities are conducted in a safe and sustainable manner. The ongoing collaboration among signatory nations highlights the importance of shared principles and guidelines in advancing human and robotic exploration of outer space.

Failure is not an option: learning from Apollo 13

In an Op-Ed for Space News , Grant Anderson,?President and CEO of Paragon Space Development Corporation, argues that there are many important lessons we can learn from the Apollo 13 mission, and actions of the heroes both orbiting the Moon and on the ground. In his own words:?"The United States is facing a wide and complex range of challenges and threats at home and around the globe. At the same time, we must still press forth on our obligations, missions and priorities, from basic governance and domestic issues to national security, foreign policy, space and defense. It is a time where inaccurate risk assessment, miscalculation, soft leadership, disunity of purpose, and vacillation can quickly lead to tragedy. It is also a time where focus, commitment, clear thinking and a steady hand at the wheel are necessary to see us through the choppy waters. It would be well worth some reflection on past examples of great American leadership through times of uncertainty and crisis – like Apollo 13 — in order to ensure we have the right approach, attitude and mindset moving ahead."?

Astrobotic and NASA: adapting the Griffin lunar lander design and utilization from the Moon to Mars

Astrobotic was awarded a NASA JPL Commercial Service Studies to enable future missions to Mars . Astrobotic is partnering with?Arizona State University?to complete a large payload delivery and hosting services study that will focus on the adaptation of the company’s Griffin-class lunar lander to deliver payloads to the Red Planet from orbit. The study of Mars surface-imaging services, a collaboration between Astrobotic, Arizona State University, and Malin Space Science Systems, will focus on electro-optical imaging instrument concepts aimed at mapping the Martian surface. The cooperation between NASA’s Mars Exploration Program consists in two concept studies of commercial services to support lower-cost, higher-frequency missions to Mars . The company will consequently examine how potential commercial services, both payload delivery and surface imaging, could enable future science missions to the Red Planet. The two studies — one for large payload delivery and hosting services, and the other for Mars surface-imaging services — will analyze how Astrobotic can adapt its existing spacecraft systems to support frequent, lower-cost missions to Mars over the next 20 years.

How Artemis astronauts will be protected from solar storms

In a comprehensive piece, Leonard David reviews how Artemis astronauts will be protected from solar storms . The article quotes Ian Cohen, deputy chief scientist for space exploration at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory:?“Fortunately, most of the spacecraft designed for human exploration — including those for Artemis — are designed to protect our astronauts from most of this radiation hazard. There are also protocols at NASA to monitor and respond to such events and specifically designed areas of the spacecraft where astronauts can shelter to ride out the hazard. The largest potential threat is if the astronauts were outside the spacecraft performing an extravehicular activity either in space or on the surface of the Moon. In that scenario NASA would monitor the event and potentially alter the mission plans — possibly cancelling the [extravehicular activity] — to protect the astronauts. So, while the radiation is a potential hazard for extreme events, NASA does actively monitor the situation and has procedures in place to keep our astronauts safe."

Opinion: The U.N. needs to form a parliament to regulate space mining

In this opinion piece, Marko Filijovi? and ShahrYar Mahmoud Sharei suggest a new approach to regulate space resource utilisation . However, the article is more about a reform of the UN starting with a reactivation of Article 109, also referred to as the San Francisco Promise. The authors' point is that the emergence of several countries active in the global economy and in lunar and space resource utilisation, isn't being reflected in the composition of the?UN Security Council as inherited from 1945. Marko Filijovi?, PhD in Security Studies, is a specialist in Outer Space security, geopolitics and resources, and a Research Fellow at the Center for UN Constitutional Research (CUNCR) in Brussels. Marko also serves on the editorial boards of the International Law Research journal in Toronto, Canada, and the Journal of Political Science and International Relations, based in New York.?ShahrYar Mahmoud Sharei, PhD in International Law, is a principal in the U.N. Charter and global governance. He is currently the Executive Director of the Center for UN Constitutional Research (CUNCR) in Brussels.

More US Senate reviews of the Artemis program

On 23 May 2024, the US Senate Committee on Appropriations - Subcommittee Hearing for Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies - held? ”A Review of the President’s Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Request for NASA and for the National Science Foundation . ” Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee’s commerce, justice and science subcommittee, questioned NASA Administrator Bill Nelson on the Artemis Program and its subcontractors’ costs overruns and delays. and the need for an independent review. Bill Nelson defended Artemis and stated that yet another review wasn't necessary.

Initial Gateway elements beginning systems integration while NASA works on a launch date

The two elements that will make up the initial Gateway capability for NASA’s Artemis campaign are getting ready for systems installations this year and next year, as NASA reviews progress to set a new launch date. The Power and Propulsion Element (PPE) and Habitation and Logistics Module (HALO) are being constructed on different continents for eventual launch together as the Gateway’s co-manifested vehicle (CMV). NASA announced that the previously scheduled launch of the CMV in September 2025 would be delayed; a new estimate is still being worked, but the conservative baseline commitment to Congress estimated it might be as late as December 2027. Meanwhile, Maxar is ready to begin PPE hardware installations, and HALO is now expected to arrive at Northrop Grumman’s Gilbert, Arizona, facilities by the end of the year.

Lunar lander company ispace sees opportunities in Japan-U.S. Artemis agreement

Takeshi Hakamada, CEO of ispace, said in a May 10 earnings call that the company believes “the Japan-U.S. agreement on the Artemis program, made in April of this year, created a quite positive business environment for us to work with and contribute to the governments of the various countries .” As reported in the April 2024 edition of this newsletter, under this agreement, the Japanese space agency JAXA will provide a pressurized rover for Artemis mission starting in the early 2030s, with NASA including two seats on Artemis landing missions for JAXA astronauts. This in return creates demand for the kinds of small robotic lunar landers that ispace is developing. Since a number of scientific exploration and technology demonstration missions using small landers will most likely be required, once manned missions begin, supplementary missions using small landers will also be necessary. A comprehensive interview with CEO Takeshi Hakamada can be found here .

Redwire awarded contract by ESA to develop robotic arm prototype for Argonaut lunar lander

On 22 May 2024, Redwire Corporation announced today that it had been awarded a contract by the European Space Agency (ESA) to develop a robotic arm prototype for the agency’s Argonaut Lunar Lander, which will establish the capability for Europe to land 1,500-1,800 kg of cargo, infrastructure, and scientific instruments on the lunar surface . The Manipulator for Argonaut Payload Needs and Unloading Support (MANUS) system will be a crucial capability for Argonaut’s logistics operations on the lunar surface. The MANUS system will enable Argonaut’s surface logistics operations such as offloading, precise positioning and retrieval of objects, and positioning of the lander. Redwire will develop, breadboard, test and verify the functions of the MANUS with the opportunity to compete for a follow-on contract.

Opinion:?Beyond ISS: America must lead in LEO, cislunar and beyond

In this opinion piece "Beyond ISS: America must lead in LEO, cislunar and beyond " Charles Bolden, Scott Pace, and Bill Liquori argue that?"The cislunar space beyond traditional Earth orbits is rapidly gaining in strategic importance. This region, which includes lunar, lunar transfer and Lagrange orbits, is already an arena for international space competition. Returning to the moon comes with the potential commercial benefits of untapped mineral resources, water to facilitate human presence on the surface and fuel to support missions to Mars and beyond."?Charles F. Bolden Jr. is a Major General (Ret.) of the U.S. Marine Corps, served as the 12th NASA Administrator and is Founder and CEO Emeritus of The Charles F. Bolden Group LLC.?Scott Pace is Director of the Space Policy Institute at the Elliott School of International Affairs of George Washington University. He served as Executive Secretary of the National Space Council and Associate Administrator for Program Analysis and Evaluation at NASA.?Bill Liquori is Lieutenant General (Ret.) of the U.S. Space Force and former Director for Space Policy at the National Security Council. He currently serves as a consultant, strategic advisor and board member for multiple aerospace and military focused organizations.

Intuitive Machines making upgrades to second lunar lander

In a May 14 earnings call, Steve Altemus, CEO of Intuitive Machines, said the company will make upgrades to its?Nova-C lunar lander, based on lessons learned from the IM-1 mission last February . The upgrades in view of the second mission late this year will cover communications, tracking and landing systems. The IM-1 mission Odysseus spacecraft experienced a rocky landing and tipped on its side. The IM-1 mission internal review "resulted in software and hardware advancements that we believe expand our technical capability to track our vehicle accurately in space and land with 20 times better precision on our next mission,” CEO Altemus said.

India's Chandrayaan-4 Moon sample return mission to involve the country’s emerging private sector

ISRO, the Indian Space Research Organisation, is working on plans for the moon sample return Chandrayaan-4 that are meant to?involve the country’s emerging private sector. The mission would aim to land at Shiv Shakti Point, the landing site of Chandrayaan-3, collect an unspecified mass of lunar samples, and bring them back to Earth. Nilesh Desai, Director of the Space Applications Centre (SAC), revealed the details in a presentation marking National Technology Day at SAC in Ahmedabad. “We are working on that and hopefully in the next four or five years or so. This also opens up many new technologies. The private sector also is going to be involved in a big way,” Desai said.

ispace EUROPE and CDS Sign Payload Service Agreement to Transport?Precise Location Measurement Technology to the Moon

ispace EUROPE S.A. (ispace-EUROPE) and Control Data Systems SRL (CDS) have signed a payload services agreement to transport precise location measurement equipment to the Moon. This payload services agreement results from a collaboration based on a memorandum of understanding which both Companies announced on March 1, 2024. Speaking on the partnership, Julien Lamamy said, “ispace is providing access to the lunar surface for companies here in Europe and around the world, allowing them to demonstrate and prove their technology.” The CEO also added, “We are proud to provide transportation and services to CDS so that they can realize Romania’s first commercial mission to the Moon.” Likewise, Ovidiu Ratiu, Founder and CEO at CDS, added, “CDS is developing communications and positioning technologies which are critical for the future of Moon exploration. Working with ispace will provide us with the opportunity to demonstrate critical technological blocks in the lunar environment for the benefit of future missions.”

Significance of country B landing in a lunar site already named yet not visited by country A?

Michelle Hanlon recently published in Space News an article titled "The stakes of Space Race 2.0 could not be higher " which refers to Greg Autry's recent book with Peter Navarro titled "Red Moon Rising: How America Will Beat China on the Final Frontier ." Meanwhile, Greg Autry had published in Forbes an article titled “Space Race 2.0 Is On: Chang’e 6 Heads To The Moon ” The author notes that Chang’e 6 will land in the resource-rich South Pole-Aitken (SPA) basin: "Specifically, China is targeting a crater called “Apollo” which is named in honor of America’s great lunar achievement." Jatan Space has provided a level-headed assessment of this situation, worth pondering. About the naming process, the "IAU Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature" is the institution in charge of lunar sites naming. In 2021 it approved eight Chinese names for features on the Moon in the vicinity of the previous Chang'e-5 mission landing site China has been naming geographical entities on the Moon since September 2010, when the Ministry of Civil Affairs of the PRC published the official Chinese names for places on the Earth's Moon. According to the rules of IAU, craters on the Moon can be named after the followings: “deceased scientists and polar explorers who have made outstanding or fundamental contributions to their field". However, the IAU also approves other naming categories, for example from various ancient mythologies and the astronomical cartography derived from diverse Earth cultures and languages.?

The Chang’e-6 mission successfully launched and entered lunar orbit toward the far side of the Moon

The Chang’e-6 (嫦娥六号) lunar probe mission took off as scheduled on May 3, 2024, aboard a Long March 5 rocket from the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center on Hainan Island. The China National Space Administration (CNSA) confirmed that the Chang’e-6 probe successfully entered lunar orbit, ahead of the far side landing, which is scheduled for June 1, 2024.

The mission is targeting a landing in the southern portion of Apollo crater within the vast South Pole-Aitken basin. The sun began to rise over the crater on the lunar far side early May 28. Landing is set for approximately 8:00 p.m. Eastern on Saturday, June 1 (0000 UTC June 2), according to the European Space Agency (ESA), which is involved via a payload developed in Sweden.

If successful, the Chang’e-6 mission will be the first in history to return a sample from a part of the far side of the Moon. The mission's lander module will separate from the orbiter in lunar orbit and begin its descent. Upon landing, the lander will perform initial checks and setup, then start drilling and scooping up materials from the surface. These samples, expected to weigh up to 2,000 grams, will be loaded into an ascent vehicle, which will launch back into lunar orbit for rendezvous and docking with the orbiter. Surface operations will last about 48 hours.

The Chinese spacecraft has embarked on a journey to the far side of the Moon and back, aiming to return lunar soil and rocks to Earth by late June. This mission will help us understand the Moon’s history. Chinese scientists are excited about the potential new findings from these samples, particularly in understanding the differences in volcanic activity between the lunar nearside and farside.

The mission is supported by the Queqiao-2 satellite, which facilitates communication between Chang’e-6 on the far side and ground stations on Earth. Based on the 2020 Chang’e-5 nearside sample return mission, the ascender and orbiter will likely rendezvous and dock around two days after launch. The samples are expected to return to Earth around June 25.

Chang’e-6 is part of China’s broader lunar exploration goals, which include two more missions to the lunar south pole: Chang’e-7 in 2026 and Chang’e-8 around 2028. China aims to launch its first crewed lunar mission by 2030 and establish a permanent lunar base as part of the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) program planned for the 2030s.

For more details on the mission, you can refer to the CNSA website and watch coverage on CGTN in English or Chinese .

Pakistani satellite iCube-Q launched aboard China's Chang'e-6 lunar mission

In a historic first, a Pakistani satellite will orbit the Moon as part of China’s Chang’e-6 lunar mission , which was launched from Hainan, China, on Friday 03 May 2024. This mission to the Moon’s far side includes 4 foreign partners payloads onboard, 3 instruments from Europe (France, Italy, ESA) and the lunar satellite iCube Qamar.? The Institute of Space Technology (IST) of Pakistan designed iCube-Q in collaboration with China’s Shanghai University (SJTU) and Pakistan’s national spaceagency Suparco. The iCube-Q miniature cube satellite or CubeSat carries two optical cameras to map out the lunar surface upon insertion in Moon orbit. The China National Space Agency (CNSA) had initially offered the opportunity to insert a CubeSat in lunar orbit through the Asia Pacific Space Cooperation Organisation (APSCO). After a thorough evaluation process, the Pakistani project iCube-Q was accepted among 8 proposals out of all APSCO member states. Prime Minister Shehbaz hailed the iCube-Q satellite as “Pakistan’s first step in space” and said that Pakistani scientists and engineers were “proving their mettle … like the expertise they exhibited in the nuclear technology [programme]”. The PM added that Pakistan and China’s friendship, which was “higher than Himalayas, deeper than ocean, and sweeter than honey” had now “crossed the frontiers of space”. More details here .

SpaceX reveals its new EVA suit design for use in orbit, on the Moon, and beyond

SpaceX revealed its new EVAsuit design as the Polaris Dawn mission looms over the horizon . In February 2022, Jared Isaacman and SpaceX announced the Polaris Program, an effort designed to rapidly advance human spaceflight capabilities, while also supporting important causes here on Earth. Polaris Dawn, the first of the program’s three human spaceflight missions, is targeted to launch to orbit no earlier than summer 2024. During the five-day mission, the crew will perform SpaceX’s first-ever Extravehicular Activity (EVA, or spacewalk) from Dragon, which will also be the first-ever commercial astronaut spacewalk. This historic milestone will also be the first time four astronauts will be exposed to the vacuum of space at the same time. In SpaceX's own words,?"While Polaris Dawn will be the first time the SpaceX EVA suit is used in low-Earth orbit, the suit’s ultimate destiny lies much farther from our home planet. Building a base on the Moon and a city on Mars will require the development of a scalable design for the millions of spacesuits required to help make life multiplanetary."

China selects new space missions including lunar far side astronomy

The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has launched a new series of missions for space science, covering lunar far side astronomy, astrophysics, solar pole observation, exoplanets, and gravitational wave missions. As announced by Wang Chi, director of the National Space Science Center (NSSC) under CAS at the annual Zhongguancun Forum meeting April 27 these missions aim at strengthening the position of China at the forefront of lunar activities, space exploration, and astronomy. These missions are clearly distinct from the China National Space Administration’s planetary and lunar exploration programs. These CNSA programs are labelled as Tianwen and Chang’e respectively. Directly relevant to the Moon is the DSL mission which will send 10 small satellites into lunar orbit, including one mother spacecraft and nine accompanying spacecrafts. They will use the moon as a shield against Earthly electromagnetic interference to enable it to pick up faint, ultra-long wave signals from the early universe.

NASA seeks input on lunar and space technology shortfalls

Via a newly created resource , NASA is seeking public input on how to prioritize nearly 200 topics in space technology to improve how it invests limited funding on them. A lot of these involve lunar exploration. A NASA " Technology Shortfall Prioritization Feedback Form " is available here . This is part of an effort by the agency’s Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) to provide a more rigorous approach to how it supports technology development. “NASA has gotten into a battle rhythm with our stakeholders where we are setting our priorities more in the space of the activities that we’re engaging in and not, initially, about the problem space: the problems that we are solving,” said Kurt “Spuds” Vogel, NASA associate administrator for space technology, at an April 23 meeting of the Lunar Surface Innovation Consortium .

Sidus Space Joins Intuitive Machines-led RACER Team

Sidus Space has announced that it is a teammate on the NASA Lunar Terrain Vehicle Services (LTVS) $30 million contract, which NASA awarded to the Intuitive Machines-led Moon Reusable Autonomous Crewed Exploration Rover (RACER) team announced earlier last month. The contract represents the first phase of developing a crewed rover for human exploration of the Moon’s surface. The LTVS project consequently aims to create a feasibility roadmap for developing and deploying a Lunar Terrain Vehicle (LTV) on the Moon using Intuitive Machines’ Nova-D cargo-class lunar lander. Intuitive Machine’s global team, including partners such as AVL, Boeing, Michelin, Northrop Grumman and Sidus Space, intends to design a robust LTV architecture with advanced power management, autonomous driving, communications, and navigation systems for lunar exploration. More details here . ?

China unveils International Lunar Research Station details

The International Lunar Research Station will consist of sections on the lunar surface, sections in lunar orbit and sections on Earth, and it will be built in two phases, said Wu Weiren, chief designer of China's lunar exploration program. Wu, also an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, introduced the ILRS plans while attending the China Space Conference, one of the major events to mark the Space Day of China in late April 2024. The first phase of the ILRS construction project will see a basic station built by 2035 in the lunar south pole region. This basic station will have comprehensive scientific facilities with complete basic functions and supporting elements to carry out regular scientific experiments, and develop and utilize resources on a limited scale. The second phase will see expansion of the station, set for completion by 2045, with a moon-orbiting space station as the hub and facilities featuring complete functions, considerable scale and stable operation. It will carry out comprehensive lunar-based scientific research and resource development and utilization, and conduct technical verification as well as scientific experiments and research for a manned landing on Mars. While Chang'e 6 was launched on May 3rd, 2024 and is expected to return in late June with samples from the lunar far side, Chang'e 7 will be launched in 2026 to do environment and resource surveys in the lunar south pole region, while Chang'e 8 will be launched in 2028 to carry out tests aimed at the in-situ utilization of lunar resources. According to Wu, after completion, the ILRS will consist of the lunar surface section, the lunar orbit section and the Earth surface section, with infrastructure such as an energy power system, a command and information system, and a lunar surface transportation system. More details can be found here .

ispace Collaborates with UNESCO on Next Lunar Mission

ispace, inc. of Japan has announced its cooperation with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on a lunar mission intended to preserve humanity’s language and cultures on the Moon . At the Information Meeting on Universal Acceptance, held at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris on May 6, 2024, UNESCO announced its mission to transport and safeguard languages and cultural treasures on the lunar surface. The cultural artefacts are saved on a special “memory?disk”, which UNESCO jointly developed with an innovation platform based in California. On behalf of ispace, inc., Julien Lamamy, CEO of ispace EUROPE S.A. (ispace-EUROPE), spoke at the event with UNESCO members involved in the project, aimed to preserve languages through the use of technology and others.?“Maintaining linguistic diversity and preserving culture are significant aspects of UNESCO’s mandate. We are very honored to announce that ispace’s HAKUTO-R Mission 2 will contribute to realizing UNESCO’s lunar mission to benefit the world,”?said Julien Lamamy. “We continue to progress on HAKUTO-R Mission 2, with the recent lander and rover development achievements that put us on a timeline for a Winter 2024 launch carrying UNESCO’s payload.”

China published in Nature a new Moon atlas which is the most detailed map ever made

China's new Moon atlas is the most detailed ever made: the Geologic Atlas of the Lunar Globe doubles the resolution of Apollo-era maps and will support the space ambitions of China and other countries. It is freely available for all in Nature .?

NASA Inspector General report highlights issues with Orion heat shield

On May 1st, 2024 the NASA Office of Inspector General (OIG) ?published a report ”NASA’s Readiness for the Artemis II Crewed Mission to Lunar Orbit ”. The report shows that there has been known problems with the Orion spacecraft, ground equipment, and the Deep Space Network, in relation with the uncrewed Artemis 1 mission launched in late 2022. But one of the biggest issues is with the Orion heat shield which lost more material than expected. While NASA said this didn’t represent a threat to the spacecraft at any time, it nonetheless led to a NASA January 2024 decision to delay the Artemis 2 mission from late 2024 to no earlier than September 2025, which will be the first Artemis crewed mission to lunar orbit, ahead of a future crewed Moon landing. An analysis of the issues is available here .

GEGSLA 6th Operational Meeting Convenes to Address Key Lunar Governance Issues

The Global Experts Group on Sustainable Lunar Activities (GEGSLA) held its 6th operational meeting on May 29, 2024, from 15:00 to 17:00 CEST. This virtual gathering brought together leading experts and stakeholders to discuss the ongoing efforts and future strategies for sustainable lunar exploration and utilization.

The meeting concluded with a summary of the next steps, including the scheduling of the 7th GEGSLA Operational Meeting in Milan on October 18, 2024. The Chairman expressed gratitude to all participants for their contributions and reiterated the importance of continued collaboration in advancing sustainable lunar activities.

This meeting underscored 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.

UNOOSA acknowledges the role of MVA in leading to the creation of the International Moon Day

UNOOSA has recognized 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".?

It is hoped that this link?will increase the visibility of MVA, GEGSLA, and IMD, and bring more initiatives, events, and sponsors!

GEGSLA at Lunar Surface Innovation Consortium (LSIC) 2024 Spring meeting

GEGSLA participated with a poster to this year's Lunar Surface Innovation Consortium (LSIC) Spring meeting , that took place on April 24th and 25th, 2024, hosted by the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory. 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 .

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.

Coming in June:?UNOOSA Conference on Sustainable Lunar Activities

The UNOOSA Sustainable Lunar Activities Conference 2024 will take place on Tue. 18 June 2024. Registration in presence and online is open on the conference website .?

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 .

UN COPUOS 67th Session Side Event Highlights Sustainable Lunar Environment

On Thursday, June 20, at the UN COPUOS 67th Session, Moon Village Association will feature a side event titled "Sustainable Lunar Environment: Challenges and Opportunities" from 13:15 to 14:15 CEST in Room M4. This event, prominently organized by the Moon Village Association alongside COSPAR, the International Astronomical Union, and For All Moonkind, will convene top experts to discuss sustainable practices for lunar exploration.

The event will be moderated by Mr. Giuseppe Reibaldi, representing the Moon Village Association, who will highlight the significance of sustainable lunar activities and the vital role the Moon Village Association plays in fostering international cooperation and innovation in lunar exploration. Representatives of the Organising Permanent Observers will share insights focusing on their collaborative efforts and individual contributions to sustainable lunar practices. Panelists will share their expertise and perspectives, fostering a rich dialogue aimed at advancing sustainable lunar activities.

This side event aims to highlight the necessity of international collaboration and innovative strategies to ensure lunar exploration and activities are conducted responsibly. The Moon Village Association's pivotal role in this dialogue highlights its commitment to building a sustainable and cooperative future for lunar exploration. Participants can expect a robust discussion that will significantly contribute to shaping future lunar policies and practices.

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]