Abstract
The near future will see a multitude of lunar missions through the efforts of
both space agencies and commercial stakeholders. The current lack of
coordination mechanisms for lunar activities presents a serious challenge to
future missions and could lead to dangerous conflicts, especially in light of
the increased global interest in specific areas like the lunar south pole. The
need to preserve the peaceful uses of space, together with the desire to begin
a new era of sustainable space exploration, urges the development of a
common level playing field for upcoming lunar activities.
A number of issues must be addressed to ensure sustainable lunar exploration
and settlement in and around the Moon, including, for example, mitigating
the creation of debris in lunar orbit, defining standards to enable
interoperability, and regulating access to natural resources.
In 2019, the Moon Village Association (MVA) created an international
platform to address these critical issues with the goal of de-risking future
lunar missions and increasing global cooperation for lunar exploration and
settlement. The MVA decided to promote the development of a neutral forum
for multi- stakeholder discussions on lunar exploration: the Global Expert
Group on Sustainable Lunar Activities (GEGSLA), with the goal of de-
risking future lunar missions and increasing global cooperation for lunar
exploration and settlement.
The primary goal of GEGSLA meetings is to stimulate informal discussions
to prepare documents to be brought to the attention of UNCOPUOS for
further discussion and deliberation. The Group started its work with the
kick-off meeting on February 25, 2021, creating the basis for increasing
global coordination for a new era of sustainable space exploration.
both space agencies and commercial stakeholders. The current lack of
coordination mechanisms for lunar activities presents a serious challenge to
future missions and could lead to dangerous conflicts, especially in light of
the increased global interest in specific areas like the lunar south pole. The
need to preserve the peaceful uses of space, together with the desire to begin
a new era of sustainable space exploration, urges the development of a
common level playing field for upcoming lunar activities.
A number of issues must be addressed to ensure sustainable lunar exploration
and settlement in and around the Moon, including, for example, mitigating
the creation of debris in lunar orbit, defining standards to enable
interoperability, and regulating access to natural resources.
In 2019, the Moon Village Association (MVA) created an international
platform to address these critical issues with the goal of de-risking future
lunar missions and increasing global cooperation for lunar exploration and
settlement. The MVA decided to promote the development of a neutral forum
for multi- stakeholder discussions on lunar exploration: the Global Expert
Group on Sustainable Lunar Activities (GEGSLA), with the goal of de-
risking future lunar missions and increasing global cooperation for lunar
exploration and settlement.
The primary goal of GEGSLA meetings is to stimulate informal discussions
to prepare documents to be brought to the attention of UNCOPUOS for
further discussion and deliberation. The Group started its work with the
kick-off meeting on February 25, 2021, creating the basis for increasing
global coordination for a new era of sustainable space exploration.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Place of Publication | Bucharest |
Publisher | Moon Village Association |
Number of pages | 68 |
ISBN (Print) | 9789730377989 |
Publication status | Published - 2022 |
Bibliographical note
I acted part of the international team of experts selected for drafting the GEGSLA Report, which was presented part of the 62nd UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, in March 2023. Please refer here for the entire list of experts involved in the project: https://moonvillageassociation.org/download/recommended-framework-and-key-elements-for-peaceful-and-sustainable-lunar-activities/Keywords
- space law
- space governace
- space resources
- peaceful space exploration
- Outer Space Treaty
- Moon Agreement
- space liability
- safe space exploration