Welcome to the GEGSLA Monthly Newsletter!
Global Expert Group on Sustainable Lunar Activities (GEGSLA)
We are delighted to introduce the 24th 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.
GEGSLA’s Participation in UN COPUOS STSC 2025
The 62nd session of the UN COPUOS Scientific and Technical Subcommittee (STSC), convened from February 3-14, 2025, in Vienna, featured substantive contributions from the Global Expert Group on Sustainable Lunar Activities (GEGSLA). Through targeted interventions, GEGSLA advanced discussions on lunar governance and sustainability, reinforcing its commitment to international collaboration.
MVA submitted a CRP detailing its ongoing initiatives in lunar governance, with a particular emphasis on sustainable exploration frameworks. The document underscored the necessity of multilateral cooperation to ensure the responsible utilization of lunar resources.
Moon Village Association (MVA) In collaboration with COSPAR, IAU, and the International Academy of Astronautics, co-authored a CRP addressing the designation and preservation of Lunar Sites of Special Scientific Interest. The document titled Lunar Sites of Special Scientific Interest: Designation and Preservation proposed criteria for identifying and safeguarding key lunar sites with scientific and heritage value. A full report is available in the February 2025 edition of MVA Newsletter.
MVA Annual Report 2024 Now Available for Download
The Moon Village Association (MVA) is pleased to announce the release of the 2024 Annual Report, now available for download. This report highlights the progress and achievements of the Global Expert Group on Sustainable Lunar Activities (GEGSLA), providing a comprehensive overview of the initiatives, operational meetings, and collaborative efforts undertaken throughout the year.
Key Highlights of the 2024 Annual Report:
This annual report serves as a valuable resource for policymakers, researchers, space agencies, industry leaders, and all stakeholders interested in sustainable lunar development.
Download the full report here.
For any inquiries or to get involved in future initiatives, feel free to reach out to us at [email protected].
ATLAC Appoints Co-Chairs and Advances Lunar Governance Discussions at UN COPUOS STSC 2025
The Action Team on Lunar Activities Consultation (ATLAC) has appointed Mr. Hasan Abbas (Pakistan) and Ms. Ulpia-Elena Botezatu (Romania) as co-chairs, following extensive member state consultations. Under the framework of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS), ATLAC will advance discussions on international mechanisms for lunar activities, emphasizing transparency, collaboration, and adherence to existing space treaties. The team aims to develop recommendations for sustainable lunar governance, addressing key issues such as site preservation, operational coordination, and legal considerations. Engaging with member states and stakeholders, ATLAC will refine its workplan and contribute to shaping the future framework for cooperative lunar exploration.
Workshop on Cislunar Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) – February 2025
The inaugural Joint ICG-IOAG Multilateral Cislunar PNT Workshop was held from February 11-13, 2025, at the Vienna International Centre, Austria. Organized by the International Committee on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (ICG) and the Interagency Operations Advisory Group (IOAG), the event provided a global coordination forum for developing interoperable, compatible, and reliable lunar PNT systems.
With lunar exploration advancing rapidly, the workshop addressed the increasing need for precise real-time positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) services. Experts from international space agencies, industry, and academia gathered to discuss key challenges, including spectrum compatibility, reference systems, governance models, and insights drawn from Earth-based GNSS. The discussions contributed to shaping the future of lunar navigation, fostering effective coordination and standardization of emerging PNT systems to support sustainable cislunar activities.
The event underscored the importance of international collaboration in establishing a robust PNT framework for future lunar exploration, ensuring the effective and sustainable development of navigation technologies beyond Earth’s orbit.
GEGSLA Members Invited to Engage in WAC-10’s Space Archaeology Theme
The World Archaeological Congress (WAC-10), set to take place in Darwin from June 22-28, 2025, will feature a dedicated theme titled "From Apollo to Artemis: 25 Years of Space Archaeology." This session will reflect on the evolution of space archaeology, from its early conceptualization in the 2000s to its present-day role in preserving lunar heritage, planetary sites, and orbital artifacts.
Organized by leading experts in the field, including Alice Gorman (Australia), Gai Jorayev (Macau), Bryan Lintott (UK), and Abeer Al Saud (Riyadh), the theme will explore the intersection of heritage and archaeology in space, particularly as new lunar missions pose challenges to preserving historical sites. Topics will cover lunar heritage, planetary geoarchaeology, legal frameworks, and the broader implications of space exploration on cultural landscapes.
GEGSLA members interested in participating or contributing to discussions on lunar heritage and space governance are encouraged to explore this opportunity. More details on session formats and proposal submissions can be found at: WAC-10 Space Archaeology Theme. Those interested can also reach out directly Alice Gorman for further engagement.
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 take part in advancing lunar coordination and the GEGSLA Framework through Global Outreach Events. These events offer a unique platform to engage with experts, enthusiasts, and stakeholders interested in optimized lunar infrastructure and its implications for the future.
As part of our commitment to fostering international collaboration, we also encourage considering International Moon Day (IMD) as a key opportunity to organize GEGSLA Global events. IMD provides a worldwide platform to promote awareness, share insights, and connect diverse communities in discussions about sustainable lunar development.
Whether you are an experienced space professional or simply curious about lunar advancements, hosting or participating in an outreach event is a great way to contribute to the growing dialogue on lunar exploration and governance. If you are planning an event related to GEGSLA or have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us at [email protected].
Let's work together to expand lunar knowledge and global cooperation! ????
MVA Lunar Governance Working Group
The Lunar 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, aligning with the work of GEGSLA. Among its recent activities are the Registration Project, contributions to 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 2025 so far, are 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 2025, 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).
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 2025 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.
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 up in May 22nd, 2025: 10th GEGSLA Operational Meeting
The Global Experts Group on Sustainable Lunar Activities (GEGSLA) will hold its 10th operational meeting in May 22, 2025, online. This meeting 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. If you are interested joining the meeting, you may contact us at [email protected].
Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost Mission 1 just landed perfectly on the Moon
Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost Mission 1 has successfully touched down in Mare Crisium, on the Moon’s near side no earlier than 2:45 a.m. CST (0845 UTC) on Sunday, March 2, marking a major milestone in NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative. This mission delivers 10 science and technology instruments to the lunar surface, supporting critical research in in-situ resource utilization (ISRU), navigation, and lunar surface conditions.
With this successful landing, NASA's ISRU science experiments are set to begin, paving the way for future sustainable lunar exploration and resource utilization. The mission’s achievements reinforce the growing role of commercial lunar delivery services in supporting international space exploration goals.
?? Watch the landing replay and mission updates here: ?? Live Stream
?? Learn more about Blue Ghost Mission 1: Firefly Aerospace
Artemis Gateway ESA I-Hab: a European commitment to the Moon
Amidst the buzz surrounding NASA's Artemis program, one of its international collaborations, the Lunar Gateway—a space station orbiting the Moon—is steadily gaining attention for its innovative design and global partnerships. This ambitious project is spearheaded by NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration, with significant contributions from the European Space Agency - ESA, JAXA: Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, as well as Canadian Space Agency | Agence spatiale canadienne.
A standout European contribution to the Gateway is the "I-Hab" module, a sophisticated living quarters for astronauts. You can delve deeper into its details here. The I-Hab's "internal secondary structures"—the intricate framework that supports its functionality—are being crafted by a skilled consortium under the leadership of Ernst K. Pfeiffer, CEO of HPS High Performance Space Structure Systems GmbH.
The I-Hab module’s construction involves an impressive lineup of European aerospace companies, each bringing expertise to the table. This includes dozens of rails, panels, joints, and mechanisms meticulously designed and built by HPS High Performance Space Structure Systems GmbH (serving as the prime contractor), alongside SpaceTech GmbH, Space Structures GmbH, INVENT GmbH, ASTROFEIN - Astro- und Feinwerktechnik Adlershof GmbH, and HPS - High Performance Structures, Romania.Together, these teams are shaping a vital piece of the Lunar Gateway, paving the way for humanity’s sustained presence around the Moon.
Australia’s lunar plans on track with a new round of government funding
As a follow up to its Moon-to-Mars Initiative launched in 2021, and like each year since, the Australian government has announced a new round of venture founding. Five projects will share in the $3.6 million Moon to Mars supply chain capability grants, building on home-grown expertise and getting more Australian-made products and services into space.?Among them is South Australian company entX which will receive $1 million to develop a radioisotope heater unit. The unit will help payloads withstand the extreme low temperatures on the moon, significantly extending their lifespan. The other projects being supported are:
The Australian government is backing its Moon-to-Mars supply chain initiative in an effort to place Australian space companies in key supporting roles on future Artemis missions. This was planned all along since 2021, long before the current uncertainties surrounding Artemis. More details here.
Successful Launch of Intuitive Machines IM2 Mission with Commercial Payloads
On February 26, 2025, the Intuitive Machines IM2 mission successfully launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the Kennedy Space Center. The mission carried multiple commercial payloads, including the Athena lander, which will deploy Intuitive Machines' Micro Nova rocket-powered hopper to demonstrate advanced mobility capabilities on the Moon. Micro Nova will conduct multiple hops, including a trajectory into and out of a permanently shadowed lunar crater, aiming to support future lunar exploration missions.
In addition to IM-2, Falcon 9 deployed three secondary payloads:
AstroForge highlighted that Odin’s mission marks an important step in deep space resource exploration, with its primary goal of reaching beyond cislunar space and analyzing asteroid 2022 OB5. More details on Odin’s mission can be found here: AstroForge Mission Overview.
IM2’s innovative hopper concept, described by IM CTO Tim Crain, envisions future lunar astronauts using drone-like assistants for reconnaissance and communication support, akin to the Ingenuity helicopter used on Mars. This mission represents a significant leap toward establishing autonomous lunar exploration systems.
More details about the launch and mission preparations:
China invites bids for lunar satellite to support crewed moon landing missions
The China Manned Space Engineering Office (CMSEO) has issued a “lunar remote sensing satellite project tender announcement” to support the country’s first crewed moon landing and subsequent missions. Participants invited to tender include domestic enterprises and institutions. The deadline is March 8. The tender description (“The lunar remote sensing satellite aims to obtain high-precision topographic and geomorphic data of the moon’s low-latitude regions, map key mineral resource distributions, and identify characteristic minerals.") suggests that the satellite could operate in a low inclination orbit (or polar orbit, with a focus on low latitude observation). It is likely the satellite will assist landing site selection, based on topographical and resource data. This also suggest that the first Chinese crewed landing will target areas nearer to the Equator, potentially avoiding South Pole encounters. The first crewed Moon landing attempt by China is reasonably targeted to take place before 2030, in contrast with uncertainties surrounding the US Artemis program. More details with Andrew Jones.
Thomas Zurbuchen: NASA Needs a ‘Lunar Marathon’ to Match China on the Moon Former NASA official Thomas Zurbuchen, in a piece for Scientific American "NASA Needs a ‘Lunar Marathon’ to Match China on the Moon" argues that the US needs new strategies for the Moon: "First, spacefaring nations need to start talking to each other, using science as a platform to establish dialogue. (...) Second, the international space community should engage in a series of discussions about standards of behaviors in lunar exploration- and in lunar exploitation, whether economic or otherwise. This discourse should clarify how lunar exploration can occur peacefully, avoiding carrying earthly conflicts into space. And, finally, the U.S. needs to renew and persevere in a lunar exploration program closer to the original Artemis vision (...) and should further leverage our commercial partners that in capability now tower over all global competitors (...). This synergistic union of public and private resources is a uniquely American phenomenon that can accelerate and radically rethink space exploration.
Thales Alenia Space won the contract for the UAE Gateway airlock contribution
The UAE has committed to deliver an airlock to Gateway as its contribution to the NASA-led Artemis program. And despite uncertainties about the future of the Artemis program, the UAE selected Thales Alenia Space to build this airlock module for the lunar Gateway. Hervé Derrey, chief executive of Thales Alenia Space, said: “This new pressurized element is crucial for Lunar Gateway as it will be designed to enable extravehicular activities for astronauts in particular. This new contract emphasizes even more Thales Alenia Space’s leading positions in the fields of space transportation systems, orbital infrastructures and deep space exploration.” Details here.
Pakistan rover to fly on China’s Chang’e-8 Moon lander mission in 2028
The China National Space Administration (CNSA) and Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) of Pakistan have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Feb. 5, that allows Pakistan’s first rover to fly on Chang’e-8. An agreement in principle had been announced late last year and was formally finalized during Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari’s visit to China last week. The agreement marks a major milestone for Pakistan’s space programme, contributing to the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) initiative. The 35 kilograms rover, developed by SUPARCO, will be deployed at the lunar south pole. It will carry advanced scientific payloads designed by Pakistani scientists, along with a collaborative scientific payload developed by Chinese and European researchers. This combined effort aims to enhance the mission’s capability to conduct detailed analyses of the lunar surface. According to the statement, Pakistani scientists will operate the rover remotely from Earth, conducting studies on lunar soil composition, radiation levels, plasma properties, and testing new technologies for sustainable human presence on the Moon. Chang’e-8 and next year’s Chang’e-7 lunar south pole missions are precursors to the construction of the ILRS, starting in the 2030s. More details here.
Firefly's Blue Ghost 1 has entered lunar orbit as iSpace' Resilience flies by the Moon
Both Firefly's Blue Ghost 1 and ispace' Resilience were launched on the same Falcon 9 rocket on 15 January 2025. Firefly's Blue Ghost 1 has entered lunar orbit as ispace' Resilience is making a lunar flyby to set up a later return. Blue Ghost is expected to land on the Moon on 02 March 2025. Details here.
Outline of NASA’s latest Moon to Mars Plans in 2024 Architecture Update - future of ESA-NASA Moon plans
As NASA develops a blueprint for space exploration throughout the solar system for the benefit of humanity, the agency released several new documents. See here and here. As NASA, under the Trump 2.0 administration, transitions to a new era, and pending the confirmation of Jared Isaacman as its Administrator, it is premature to draw conclusions. Nonetheless, ESA has been pondering the future of its collaboration with NASA for the Moon and as part of the Artemis program. See this analysis by Jeff Foust. Meanwhile, the Artemis NASA teams and contractors keep preparing SLS, Orion, and the Artemis 2 mission slated for April 2026. Artemis contractors still defend the current architecture as the fastest way to return to the Moon.
China's space agency partner with private company STAR.VISION in a commercial first for a Moon mission
In the last week of January 2025, STAR.VISION Aerospace Group Limited announced it was the first Chinese private enterprise approved by the China National Space Administration (CNSA) to participate in the lunar exploration program. STAR.VISION, engaged in areas including satellite design, intelligent satellite platforms and AI data analysis, will team up with Zhejiang University (ZJU) and the Middle East Technical University (METU) in Türkiye to develop two, 5-kilogram lunar surface micro-exploration robots. The project has been selected for China’s Chang’e-8 mission which is scheduled for launch in 2028 on a Long March 5 rocket. More details here.
NASA, ESA, ISA, Northrop Grumman, Thales-Alenia: Lunar Gateway’s HALO pressurized module in preparation for shipment to the United States
Leaders from NASA, ESA (European Space Agency), and the Italian Space Agency, as well as industry representatives from Northrop Grumman and Thales Alenia Space, were in Turin to assess Gateway’s HALO (Habitation and Logistics Outpost) module before its primary structure is shipped from Italy to Northrop Grumman’s Gilbert, Arizona site in March.
Following final outfitting and verification testing, the module will be integrated with the Power and Propulsion Element at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The first pressurized element of Gateway’s cislunar Space Station, HALO, will be the very first habitat for astronauts involved in Artemis. Thales Alenia Space is proud to be a key industrial partner in human lunar exploration, providing key technologies to ensure the safety and comfort of astronauts in cislunar orbit and on the Moon’s surface.
Safety panel urges NASA to reassess Artemis mission objectives to reduce all kinds of risk
NASA is in the process of completely reassessing the Artemis program and the various safety and operational risk they entail: among the critical topics, technical challenges, timeline, status of the SLS, Orion, Gateway, and relationships with commercial partners. It's complicated. For example, evolution of the Gateway states and specifications modify the constraints for SpaceX compared with when the contract was awarded. Blue Origin will also require close examination. Details here.
Primes vs startups and evolving business models: Lockheed Martin vs Lunar Outpost
The established space business pattern is that "majors" are de facto primes, and startups struggle to even get a piece of the action. The Trump 2.0 administration, strongly driven in favour of commercial space and innovation, might change that. For example, established primes could work on government systems as subcontractors, allowing startups to become the new primes. This is already happening on some missions, such as NASA’s program to build a lunar terrain vehicle where Lockheed Martin is a subcontractor to Lunar Outpost. There is nothing wrong with a younger and smaller space company leading a new project, and relying for implementation on capabilities of an older established firm that a?new venture doesn't possess.?More here.
A recap of the quest for lunar water with on-going missions and projects, by Payload
The two missions that just launched successfully late February are key in the quest for lunar water. Intuitive Machines’ IM2 mission second Nova-C lunar lander, named Athena, and NASA’s JPL Lunar Trailblazer satellite will spend about a week in transit to the Moon. Lunar Trailblazer is expected to begin orbiting the Moon, mapping the quantity and location of water ice on the surface, while Athena descends to its landing site in the Mons Mouton region ~100 miles from the lunar South Pole. During its ~10-day mission, Athena will deploy two payloads focused on searching for water in the lunar regolith: PRIME-1 and PLWS. PRIME-1 is NASA’s Polar Resource Ice Mining Experiment with two instruments: drill from Honeybee Robotics (The Regolith Ice Drill for Exploring New Terrain, or TRIDENT) and a mass spectrometer from NASA (Mass Spectrometer Observing Lunar Operations, or MSolo). As for PLWS, the Puli Lunar Water Snooper from Hungary-based Puli Space Technologies, it is a 400-g dowsing instrument attached to Intuitive Machines’ Micro Nova Hopper that will attempt to identify and measure the concentration of water in lunar soil, near the landing site and in a permanently shaded crater nearby.? Meanwhile, other lunar stakeholders carry on: ispace’s RESILIENCE lander is expected to reach the Moon as early as May, is bringing water electrolyzer equipment to demonstrate the production of oxygen and hydrogen on the Moon for the first time. Argo Space Corporation raised $7.9M in seed funding in October to develop water-powered space transportation vehicles, with a vision of using lunar water as fuel in the long-term. Starpath secured a $12M seed round in August to develop a fleet of regolith harvesting rovers and a processing plant on the Moon to split lunar water into hydrogen and oxygen. And Lockheed Martin unveiled its vision for the future lunar economy in July, which centered around the robust utilization of lunar water ice. Ethos Space Resources emerged from stealth in June with the aim of utilizing water-rich regolith to produce LOX on the Moon. More details here.
Beyond Earth VC:?Lunar Resources: Is the Industry Ready for Venture Capital Investment?
General Partners Dr. Oleg Demidov and Alex Smolik led the team to spend six months conducting in-depth research on lunar resources to determine whether now is the right time to build a venture-backed business in this field. The award-winning team has a proven track record in this field, having previously won the Mars Colony Prize organized by the Mars Society for their technological model of a sustainable Mars settlement. This model later evolved into the Beyond Earth VC investment thesis, shaping the vision for the future of space ventures. Over an inventory of lunar resources candidates for in-situ utilization (ISRU), and noting that today there is over a hundred of venture companies involved in lunar mining and ISRU, the VC duo concludes that it is realistic to consider lunar resources as a tentative investment domain.?
Gerald Black: Redirecting NASA’s focus: why the Gateway program should be cancelled
The Gateway, a small space station intended to orbit the Moon, has been an integral part of NASA’s Artemis program to return astronauts to the lunar surface and establish a permanent presence on the Moon. However, according to Gerald Black, it has become increasingly clear that the Gateway is a poor use of our limited resources for space exploration. This article delves into the reasons why the Gateway program should be cancelled, with the Gateway funding redirected to the Artemis program and to landing the first humans on Mars. Cancelling Gateway would directly affect NASA's cooperation with Europe, UAE, and Japan, whose contributions would have to be redirected, lest these international partnerships become irrelevant.
Jatan Space: a China lunar papers compilation, and a link to an MIT poll on lunar sustainability
Among the features of "Moon Monday" issue #211 by Jatan Space, feature a useful a China lunar papers compilation: Chinese researchers have published a whole range of papers lately on their recent lunar exploration outcomes as well as ongoing scoping of future ambitions. Also, a link to an MIT poll inquiring about how people define "lunar sustainability." Kudos to Jatan Mehta (again)!
Kevin Hell: The power dilemma: Energy access could make or break the space economy, Moon included
In "The power dilemma: Energy access could make or break the space economy this year," Kevin Hell, CEO of mPower assesses in particular the lunar economy energy requirements: "Meanwhile, the need for robust and cost-effective energy infrastructure only continues to grow across other new applications. Ambitions to develop a lunar economy represent the next great phase of space commercialization. Everything planned for the Moon — mining, manufacturing and permanent habitats — will require significant amounts of power." We agree that energy, more than a bottleneck, is a game changer making all the difference between a small station operation and commercial industrialization at scale.
NPR: Is Trump preparing to cancel America's ride back to the moon?
As of late February, there is increasing uncertainty about the future status of the Artemis program, if it is to be continued at all. The conventional wisdom indicates that maintaining the Artemis 2 (orbital flight) and 3 (crewed landing) missions while using SLS would ensure continuity even if SLS is to be ditched afterward. However, it appears that options of cancelling international cooperation-enabler Gateway, or even the whole program altogether are being considered. it is premature to draw any conclusion, other than to expect clarification in the not-too-distant future.?
Nick Reese: Companies are planning to build space critical infrastructure, including for the Moon. Can space policy keep up?
NASA has been studying an architecture called LunaNet for lunar communications and navigation that could require a new time standard. Credit: NASA Nick Reese is the co-founder and COO of Frontier Foundry and an adjunct professor at the NYU Center for Global Affairs. He is the former Director of Emerging Technology Policy at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security where he led space policy efforts for the department and advised the White House on space policy issues. In this piece for Space News, he looks at the policy aspects of keeping up with the acceleration of space critical infrastructure building. This is particularly relevant in the case of "NASA is working on LunaNet, a delay/disruption-tolerant network for the Moon. The complex system will alleviate the need for pre-scheduled communications windows between space missions and ground stations, build a position, navigation, and timing (PNT) capability, and allow astronauts on the Moon to have a live connection for situational awareness and wellbeing while on mission. In other words, LunaNet is not simply an internet for the moon. It’s communications, PNT, and human safety." And because "On Earth, we would call that critical infrastructure" Reese advocates that "we need to end the debate about designating space as terrestrial critical infrastructure and move toward a space critical infrastructure model." ?
PNAS study evaluates energy requirements to produce oxygen on the Moon at 24 kWh per kilogram.? The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS) is considered a prestigious and reputable journal in the scientific community. A PNAS study has just evaluated energy requirements to produce oxygen on the Moon at 24 kWh per kilogram. Because we need a lot of kilograms of oxygen, turning the Moon into a fuel depot will take a lot of power. John Timmer at Are Technica provides the key takeaways of the study.
Communications on the Moon: the LuGRE payload onboard the Blue Ghost mission
Among the 10 scientific NASA payloads carried by the Blue Ghost mission, scheduled to land on the Moon early March 2025, is the Lunar GNSS Receiver Experiment (LuGRE) from NASA, the Italian Space Agency, and Qascom. LuGRE will demonstrate the first Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signal receiver on and around the Moon using existing sats orbiting Earth. A major step as space agencies team up with the commercial sector to help future missions communicate and navigate the lunar surface. More details here.
The LUWEX Project Demonstrates Lunar Water Extraction Technology
The validation of Lunar Water Extraction and Purification Technologies for In-Situ Propellant and Consumables Production aka LUWEX project has reached completion, demonstrating significant progress in lunar water extraction capabilities. This Horizon Europe-funded initiative brought together expertise from Germany ?Austria ?Poland ?and Italy. Details here. ?
Blue Origin successfully launched New Shepard on lunar gravity suborbital flight
On 04 February 2025, Blue Origin launched its New Shepard suborbital vehicle on the company’s first attempt to simulate lunar gravity in flight. The capsule, once released, did spin up as planned, creating lunar gravity conditions for the payloads inside for?about two minutes. The capsule carried 29 payloads, 17 of which were provided by NASA through its Flight Opportunities program, which supported development of the lunar gravity capability for New Shepard. The payloads were in six broad categories: in-situ resource utilization, dust mitigation, advanced habitation systems, sensors and instrumentation, small spacecraft technologies, and entry, descent and landing. One additional payload was mounted on the exterior of the booster to expose it to space conditions. While a spin duration of only a few minutes remains insufficient for longer hardware test, this capability will still allow a range of Science-as-a-Service experiments. Details here.
ESA awards $900 million contract to Thales-Alenia for Argonaut lunar lander development On 30 January 2025, Thales Alenia Space announced a contract worth nearly $900 million?to develop and deliver the Lunar Descent Element (LDE) for Argonaut, the European Space Agency’s cargo lander slated for missions to the Moon starting in the 2030s.?ESA’s Argonaut represents Europe’s autonomous and versatile access to the Moon, supporting international exploration endeavours on the lunar surface. Argonaut will be used in regular missions to deliver infrastructures, scientific instruments, rovers, technology demonstrators as well as vital resources for astronauts on the lunar surface, such as food, water and air. Argonaut will be able to survive the harsh lunar night and days for five years, providing a key capability for sustainable lunar exploration.?Argonaut is designed to work seamlessly with ESA’s Lunar Link on the Gateway and Moonlight communication and navigation systems. Argonaut is one of Europe’s contributions to international lunar programmes, particularly NASA’s Artemis programme and commercial lunar lander services, contributing to establishing a permanent and sustainable human presence on the Moon. More details here.?
The rise of Chinese commercial space and its implications for the Moon
Commercial space activity and clusters are quickly building up in several major Chinese provinces. 2025, the Year of the Snake, will see a number of Chinese launch startups testing rockets that are larger and reusable. More breakthroughs in reusability and super-heavy capability is the most immediate impact that can be anticipated for future Moon missions. But China is expanding commercial space beyond launchers and that will have an impact as well.
According to Marco Aliberti, associate manager and lead on international engagement at the European Space Policy Institute (ESPI), as quoted in Space News, “China’s provincial policies in support of so-called New Space need to be seen as a major contributing factor to the emergence and current flourishing of the Chinese commercial space industry. Aliberti also noted that many of the China’s leading space companies have obtained substantial funding by provincial or city governments over the past 10 years: “This local support to commercial space is informed by both strategic and economic rationales. (...) Strategically, at the provincial and/or municipal level, authorities are fully cognizant that commercial space industry is not only an important status marker of the overall strength and image of a province, but also an integral component of China’s civil-military integration strategy, of its overall military build-up as well as of its international power projection.”?2025 will see the formulation of the new 15th Five-year plan 2026-2030. In 2026, China will update its objectives and release a new space white paper outlining the country’s accomplishments and its ambitions for the next five-year period 2026-2030. More details on the most active Chinese space clusters here.
NASA pauses work of science groups and takes down an entire lunar repository, citing Trump executive orders
NASA has directed a set of science committees to pause their work, citing recent Trump administration executive orders, a move that canceled one meeting and put others on hold. In a memo late Jan. 31, Carol Paty and Morgan Cable, co-chairs of the Outer Planets Assessment Group (OPAG), said that to comply with the NASA directive they were putting on hold plans for their own community meeting, scheduled for late February in Tucson, Arizona,?as well as a town hall planned for the Lunar and Planetary Sciences Conference outside Houston in mid-March. And finally, the NASA-backed lunar community LEAG decades-old repository of scientific papers has been erased by execution of the Executive Orders to cancel DEIA and the support to women in space! Critical exploration documents have thus gone missing, and Jatan Space provides links to backup platforms such as the Internet Archive, to recover some of these documents. This is an incentive to create a decentralised, blockchain-enabled, censorship-free repository of open-source (Moon) knowledge.
Venturi Astrolab's lunar rover FLEX to fly on Astrobotic's Griffin-1 lander upcoming end-2025 mission
Venturi Astrolab’s FLEX Lunar Innovation Platform, or FLIP rove,r will be the main payload on Astrobotic’s Griffin-1 lander. The upcoming mission toward the end of 2025 targets the lunar South Pole. Initially, Griffin-1 was supposed to carry NASA's Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER). But NASA cancelled VIPER in July 2024. While NASA announced at the time that it would fly a mass simulator in place of VIPER, it allowed Astrobotic to seek a commercial payload instead. Astrolab's FLEX is that replacement payload on the Griffin-1 lander mission. Details here.
On Fri. 07 February 2025, Boeing has informed its employees that NASA may cancel SLS contracts
Fri. 07 February 2025, Boeing has informed its employees that NASA may cancel SLS contracts. The White House has not made a final decision yet on the large rocket. This could mean at least 400 to 800 fewer positions by April 2025 at Boeing, and that requires a 60-days notice. And many more among contractors. Potentially thousands more including foreign partners if more Artemis components are cancelled (Orion, Gateway, etc.) As reported first by Eric Berger in Art Technical "On Friday, with less than an hour's notice, David Dutcher, Boeing's vice president and program manager for the SLS rocket, scheduled an all-hands meeting for the approximately 800 employees working on the program. The apparently scripted meeting lasted just six minutes, and Dutcher didn't take questions. During his remarks, Dutcher said Boeing's contracts for the rocket could end in March and that the company was preparing for layoffs in case the contracts with the space agency were not renewed. "Cold and scripted" is how one person described Dutcher's demeanor. “ “ Multiple sources said there has been a healthy debate within the White House and senior leadership at NASA, including acting administrator Janet Petro, about the future of the SLS rocket and the Artemis Moon program. Some commercial space advocates have been pressing hard to cancel the rocket outright. Petro has been urging the White House to allow NASA to fly the Artemis II and Artemis III missions using the initial version of the SLS rocket before the program is canceled. “ Our take: seemingly it’s not a matter of whether SLS will be cancelled, but when, with a tiny chance the respite asked for by Janet Petro may be granted. Jared Isaacman hasn’t even been confirmed yet. Next is the Fiscal 2026 budget. Opponents to the SLS (started in 2011, expected to deliver in 2016, but did so only in 2022, at the cost of $3Bn/year) once called it the “Senate Launch System." However, there is no human-rated alternative to SLS at the moment. Starship is absolutely not ready for the Moon, nor is the SpaceX lander. More details here and here.
U.S.-Japan statement mentions Artemis amid NASA uncertainties
On 07 February 2025, the White House released a statement - the US-Japan Joint Leader’s Statement amid uncertainties on the future of NASA and the Artemis programme, that upend international partnerships: ?“The United States and Japan intend to continue their strong partnership in civil space and on aeronautics, science, and human exploration, including on the upcoming Crew-10 mission to the International Space Station that includes U.S. and Japanese astronauts as well as lunar surface exploration on future Artemis missions.” JAXA is working with the European Space Agency on the Lunar I-Hab habitation module for the lunar Gateway along with other contributions that include logistics missions using a version of its HTV-X cargo vehicle. NASA and JAXA also reached an agreement in April 2024 where JAXA, together with Toyota, will develop a pressurized lunar rover called Lunar Cruiser for use on later Artemis missions, enabling longer expeditions from Artemis landing sites. In return, NASA will deliver the rover on a cargo version of SpaceX’s Starship lunar lander and provide two seats on Artemis landing missions to JAXA astronauts, one of which would be as early as Artemis 4. Whether that happens remain to be seen. More details here.?
Firefly's Blue Ghost on track for landing on the Moon in early-March 2025
After spending three weeks in a highly elliptical Earth orbit, as of Saturday 08 February 2025, Firefly's Blue Ghost had completed its first critical lunar insertion burn. More series of burns were to follow by mid-February, including a four-minute main engine firing on its four-day journey to lunar orbit. Blue Ghost will then attempt its Moon landing at the beginning of March. For the landing sequence, the software, pre-programmed with publicly available images of the lunar surface, will scan the surface to determine a safe landing area. Once near the surface, Blue Ghost will initiate its main engine braking burn before cutting off and landing with just its eight thrusters. To mitigate horizontal skipping, Firefly installed an eight- to ten-inch stack of aluminum honeycomb in its landing legs to help with leveling upon touch down on the rocky lunar surface. More here.
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