Welcome to the GEGSLA Monthly Newsletter!
Global Expert Group on Sustainable Lunar Activities (GEGSLA)
We are delighted to introduce the 16th 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.
Action Team on Lunar Activities Consultation (ATLAC) gets approved
The proposal tabled by Romania with support from Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, Poland, Portugal, the Republic of Korea, and Switzerland, for establishing an Action Team on Lunar Activities Consultation (ATLAC) has been approved by the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UN COPUOS) on Friday, June 28th, 2024.
To promote the development of safe, sustainable, and transparent lunar activities for peaceful purposes, Committee members agreed that the international community should address a number of areas, including, but not limited to, how to share information on ongoing and planned missions, engage in consultations, enable interoperability, facilitate safety, engage in appropriate consultations to avoid harmful interference, protect the lunar environment, mitigate the creation of debris, share best practices and lessons learned, conduct capacity building, and identify common needs and concerns.
The Committee also noted that the UN OOSA Secretariat invites contributions from State members on a bureau and workplan of the Action Team for endorsement by the Committee at its sixty-eight sessions, in 2025. Romania was encouraged to further lead the process.
The mandate, terms of reference and methods of work can be consulted here. Follow the UN OOSA COPUOS 2024 webpage here for updated versions of documents.
Armenia becomes the 43rd country to sign the Artemis Accords
Acting Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs Jennifer Littlejohn, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, and Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to the United States Lilit Makunts, joined Mkhitar Hayrapetyan, Minister of High-Tech Industry of the Republic of Armenia, as he signed the Artemis Accords, on 12 June 2024, at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters building in Washington. Republic of Armenia is the 43rd country to sign the Artemis Accords, which establish a practical set of principles to guide space exploration cooperation among nations participating in NASA’s Artemis program.
China’s next moon mission to include Egypt and Bahrain, both members of the Artemis Accords
Egypt and Bahrain signed a scientific and technological cooperation contract for Chang’e-7 lunar surface material hyperspectral imaging instrument, as announced on Chinese platfoms Weixin and Weibo. This is an example of overlap with a concrete activity program led by China that benefits members of the Artemis Accords. Relevant analyses and commentary are available here, here, here, and here.
In an historical première, Chang’e 6 landed back on Earth in Siziwang Banner, Inner Mongolia, China, with samples from the far side of the Moon
Chang’e-6 historical mission returned to Earth with first-ever lunar far side samples. Chang'e 6 is also an example of international cooperation, as it successfully carried payloads from Pakistan, ESA (Sweden), Italy, and France. Here is a CGTN Live Special coverage of Chang'e-6 lunar probe’s return to Earth. Various reports were issued when Chang’e 6 was still on its way back to Earth here, here, here, and here. A post-landing report can be consulted here. A follow-up CGTN broadcast right after the landing can be watched here.
Interstellar Lab to send roses to The Moon
Interstellar Lab is a biofarming startup that recently announced Mission Little Prince: an ambitious plan to deliver a rose in bloom to the lunar surface, and beam a picture back to Earth. Barbara Belvisi founded Interstellar Lab five years ago with the aim of helping humans become multiplanetary through building pods with controlled environments from temperature to humidity that can be used to grow plants on Earth and in space. The company, which is headquartered in Paris, has a terrestrial business, including growing for health and beauty and research customers, but always had a plan to bring its pods to space, Belvisi said. To that end, Interstellar Labs hired Jacob Scoccimerra, who previously worked at Nanoracks, as the firm’s space program lead in March.
The Moon at the menu of the UNOOSA “Management and Sustainability of Space Activities Conference” in Lisbon on 14-15 May 2024
The “Management and Sustainability of Space Activities Conference” took place in Lisbon, on May 14 and May 15, 2024, totalling over 15 hours of talks. A joint event organized by Portugal with UNOOSA (United Nations Office for Space Affairs), this conference intended to contribute to the discussion on the space sector at the upcoming United Nations Summit of the Future in September 2024. Christophe Bosquillon reported on it in SpaceWatch.Global: besides featuring experts’ discussion on the importance of international cooperation and regulations in managing and sustaining outer space activities, a key merit of this conference is to have allowed member states that aren’t dominant space powers to showcase their initiatives.
The conference didn’t skip the crucial issue of identification, extraction, and transportation of space resources, focusing on the Moon and Mars. Discussions emphasized the importance of considering space resources as commodities rather than consumables and the need for a legal framework for their exploration and utilization. The Moon Agreement was highlighted as a useful instrument for extra-terrestrial resources, with the potential for sharing scientific benefits and wider public participation. The challenges of multiple users and safety zones were addressed, along with the role of private actors and the need for legal certainty. The panel concluded that a small set of principles should begin the development of a regulatory framework for space resource exploration and exploitation while keeping intergenerational sustainability and planetary protection in mind. The discussions also touched upon the potential benefits of using resources in space rather than bringing them back to Earth and the importance of long-term sustainability for space exploration. [Frameworks of discussion surrounding space resource utilization and what they imply in the larger picture can also be explored through the various Space Café Law Breakfast with Steven Freeland.]
Japanese billionaire Maezawa abruptly canceled the 'dearMoon' lunar flyby mission
The 'dearMoon' mission cancellation statement mentioned the decision was unavoidable, without providing much details. Part of the issue is the availability and affordability of spacecrafts for touristic Moon exploration outside of a government-backed or corporate sponsored framework. Various reports in Nikkei Asia and Space.com provided more context.
Lunar infrastructure startup Ethos emerges from stealth to focus on "pads and gas pumps"
Ethos Space Resources, a lunar infrastructure startup with deep ties to SpaceX, emerged from stealth today with plans to tackle a specific lunar infrastructure challenge. The company is developing technology to melt lunar regolith, producing both a flat surface aka pad for landing and take-off, and liquid oxygen (LOX) for rocket propellant. Two of the company’s three founders were early SpaceX alums who helped build the launch giant’s earliest pads and vehicles: Ross Centers (CEO) is a Colorado School of Mines alum specializing in space resources. Jeff Overbeek (COO) is a 12-year SpaceX veteran who founded the company’s launch reliability group and helped build Falcon 9 launch sites. Brogan BamBrogan (VP of customer ops & integration) was employee #23 at SpaceX, where he helped develop Falcon and Dragon.
China takes another step towards the Moon with a Long march 10 rocket test
China’s main space contractor has carried out a successful static fire test of a rocket first stage designed to take astronauts to the Moon. A Long March 10 first stage test article was fired in Fengtai district of Beijing, Friday, June 14, 2024. The stage started normally, operated steadily, and shut down on schedule, the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT) stated via its WeChat channel. The test was conducted by the Institute 101 of the Sixth Academy of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), the country’s main space contractor. The successful test is a step towards China’s goal of putting astronauts on the Moon before 2030. More details here.
Andrew Jones: ESA-China Moon cooperation could end with Chang’e-6
Andrew Jones, in a piece for Space News “ESA-China Moon cooperation could end with Chang’e-6,” explores the prospect of ESA cooperating or not with China beyond the Chang'e-6 mission. Europe is obligated to the Artemis Accords as part of its more than 40 signatories. China thrives on the International Lunar Research Station, with Russia and a number of partners. There is some limited overlap between the two programs and political groupings, but overall, that sounds like a recipe for a Selenopolitik split. Should China and Europe engage in a more substantive form of partnership on the Moon, moving forward?
Leonard David: Moon ice in the Artemis era: what we still don’t know
Leonard David, in a piece for Space News "Moon ice in the Artemis era: what we still don’t know," looks at the realistic prospects of "striking water" rather than gold on the Moon. This is a way of asking classic extraction industry questions: how do we know that we have sufficiently assumed resources worth exploring. And how do we translate these assumed resources into quantified and economically exploitable reserves. Answering the first question will keep us busy for the next ten years. As for the second…
GEGSLA attended, on behalf of MVA, the 67th meeting of United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UN COPUOS)
The Global Expert Group on Sustainable Lunar Activities (GEGSLA), a key initiative of the Moon Village Association (MVA), proudly participated in the 67th session of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS). This UN Committee, held annually, brings together international space agencies, organizations, and experts to discuss and promote peaceful and sustainable space exploration and utilization. Documents can be consulted as following:
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UNOOSA hosted the UN Conference on Sustainable Lunar Activities on 18 June 2024
The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) has hosted the first United Nations Conference on Sustainable Lunar Activities, ahead of the 67th Session of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS). The Conference convened astronauts, heads of space agencies, the scientific and legal communities, and industry to address common approaches, priorities, and expectations for the peaceful, sustainable, and cooperative exploration of the Moon. Speaking about the importance of the conference, Director of UNOOSA Aarti Holla-Maini said: “This first UN Conference on Sustainable Lunar Activities has shown that there is a growing international consensus of the need for consultation and coordination on lunar exploration. I am confident the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space will also advance on these necessary activities and topics such as space resources, leveraging expert-driven consultations as a mechanism to do so.”
UN COPUOS 67th Session Side Event Highlights Sustainable Lunar Environment
On Thursday, June 20, at the UN COPUOS 67th Session, Moon Village Association featured a side event titled "Sustainable Lunar Environment: Challenges and Opportunities". 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. Due to unforeseen family events, Mr. Giuseppe Reibaldi, President of the MVA, was only able to attend virtually.
The event was moderated by Mr. Niklas Hedman, representing COSPAR, 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 Permanent Observers shared insights focusing on their collaborative efforts and individual contributions to sustainable lunar practices. Panelists shared their expertise and perspectives, fostering a rich dialogue aimed at advancing sustainable lunar activities.
This side event aimed 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 noted a robust discussion that significantly contributed to shaping future lunar policies and practices.
UNOOSA 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!
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.
3rd PromoMoon Initiative for Moon Village Generation in honor of Dr. Alexander Degtyarev
The final ceremony is scheduled to take place on 26 July 2024. The Top-3 contenders that were selected are:
And two Ukrainian projects:
Register for Space News "Webinar - Race to the Moon" on 02 July 2024
On 02 July 2024, Space News will hold a "Webinar - Race to the Moon" with an all-star lineup: Douglas Terrier, Associate Director for Strategy, NASA Johnson Space Center ; Yao Song, Co-CEO, Co-founder, Orienspace ; Blaine Curcio, Founder, Orbital Gateway, Consulting ; Namrata Goswami, Author, Professor, Founder. The moderator will be Space News Host David Ariosto. Register 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 gegsla@moonvillageassociation.org
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 arhontas@unlv.nevada.edu.
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 gegsla@moonvillageassociation.org or donate directly to GEGSLA through the MVA website here.
International Moon Day 2024: Illuminating the shadows
As more missions arrive at the Lunar South Pole, so does the mystery unravels and the shadows will be forever illuminated, thus, paving the way for mankind’s exploration and harvest of the Moon. This years’ main event will be hosted by Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China. More information can be consulted here.
Coming in October 18th: 7th GEGSLA Operational Meeting
The Global Experts Group on Sustainable Lunar Activities (GEGSLA) will hold its 7th operational meeting on October 18, 2024, from 14:00 to 18:00 CEST, in the margins of IAC 2024 in Milano, Italy. This physical gathering will bring together leading experts and stakeholders to discuss the ongoing efforts and future strategies for sustainable lunar exploration and utilization.
The meeting highlights the importance of international cooperation and strategic planning in ensuring the sustainable exploration and utilization of lunar resources, setting the stage for significant advancements in the coming years.
Contact Us
If you would like to share news or events in our next monthly newsletter, partner with GEGSLA, or highlight your organization's work, reach out to us at gegsla@moonvillageassociation.org
M.D. Occupational and Space Medicine student; ASRI Research Fellow; ESA Citizen Scientist; NASA Space App Collective Cohort 24-24; UNOOSA and WHO Space and Global Health Cv Taskforce
4moThank you for this great newsletter!