Friday / 10 May 2024

NASA Soliciting Thoughts on Landing Site Value and Non-Interference in Lunar Operations

Expanding on Artemis Accords Section 11 (Deconfliction of Space Activities), which evokes legal concepts such as ‘due regard’ and ‘safety zones’ in consideration of activity on the Moon with potential to interfere in the activities of another signatory, NASA Office of Technology, Policy, and Strategy (OTPS) seeking guidance on landing site valuation (with special emphasis on MSP), how such value may degrade with contamination and mitigation measures; Secure World Foundation, Moon Village Association, For All Moonkind, Open Lunar Foundation among stakeholder groups working to formulate lunar policy; Questionnaire due 7 June 2024

 
Pictured: OTPS Associate Administrator Charity Weeden; Credits: CNSA, NASA

Thursday / 25 April 2024

International Lunar Observatory Association Selected for Chang’E-7 Galaxy Imaging Payload

ILOA Hawai’i is honored to be selected as a Chang’E-7 payload to conduct Galaxy / Astronomy imaging from Shackleton Rim on the surface of the Moon about 2026; ILOA advances its Moon missions, most especially its flagship ILO-1 destined for Malapert Summit for observation and communication, in the spirit of peaceful and productive cooperation, equality and mutual benefit – in Space, on Earth, and perhaps most importantly, on the Moon; ILOA, and ILOA-affiliated Space Age Publishing Company, also advocate that independent associations, business enterprises, universities and non-profits (NGOs) be encouraged and accepted for participation in the USA-initiated Artemis Accords, as they are in the UN and the China-led ILRS International Lunar Research Station

 
Credits: ILOA, CNSA, DSEL, NASA

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 5-8 Jan 2024

Thailand Pursuing Astronomy from the Moon, Astropark Astronomy Outreach, and International Partnerships

National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (NARIT) and Mahidol University preparing to conduct cislunar cosmic ray measurement with Sino-Thai Sensor Package for Space Weather Global Monitoring payload on China National Space Administration (CNSA) Chang’E-7 launching to MSP NET 2026; 2.4-m Thai National Telescope, 40-m Thai National Radio Telescope advancing astrophysics; Princess Sirindhorn AstroPark raising public astronomy awareness through initiatives such as Night at Museum; NARIT is an independent signatory to International Lunar Research Station through Deep Space Exploration Laboratory (DSEL), as is International Lunar Observatory Association (ILOA Hawai’i), Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization (APSCO) and Adriatic Aerospace Association (A3)

Credits: NARIT; Pictured: NARIT Executive Director Saran Poshyachinda (R) and DSEL Chairman of the Management Committee Guan Feng (L)
 

Friday / 14 July 2023

NGO Participation in Artemis Accords — as with International Lunar Research Station — is Essential to Build Lunar Society

Artemis Accords purpose and scope ‘to apply to civil space activities conducted by the civil space agencies of each signatory’ may be amended to broaden lunar community inclusion in democratic fashion, expanding to non-governmental, independent, enterprising entities in addition to ‘government-to-government agreements, agency-to-agency arrangements’; 6,000+ NGOs consult with UN Economic and Social Council under Article 71, which may provide model for Moon; nanoSPACE AG of Lyss, Switzerland is ILRS signatory, International Lunar Observatory Association of Kamuela, Hawai’i seeking to sign Artemis Accords if possible before signing MoU with DSEL for ILRS on 20 July, International Moon Day

Credits: UN, CNSA, NASA

USA July 4th Holiday Edition
Mon-Wed / 3-5 July 2023

USA@250: Ready for Multi World Civilization?

Artemis 3 touchdown NLT 4 July 2026 brings challenges – Moonsuit, lander, fuel depot, funding; and consequences – first women, first person of color to advance gender, racial equality – in situ on the surface of Moon / in space and on Earth; International, economic egalitarian considerations likely to prompt new social movements, reevaluation of existing norms as sustainable lunar communities are established; Principles of autonomy and self-determination articulated 4 July 1776 in Declaration of Independence may inform both Artemis and International Lunar Research Station constituents, in peace for all

Credits: National Archives, SpaceX

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 17-20 Dec 2021

Artemis Accords and International Lunar Research Station Advance Partnerships on Moon Surface

Humanity is set on a return to the Moon, with two major efforts: Artemis program, codified under Artemis Accords with 14 partner counties and an estimated US$86B cost through 2025, with focus on commercialization of cislunar space and human Moon landings via SLS / Orion / Starship system; Perhaps in conjunction, ILRS emphasis on robotically conducted science led by anchor nations China and Russia with possible human landings late 2020s; Countries being courted by both coalitions include Vietnam (to begin talks with USA Q1 2022 per VP Harris), France, India, Thailand, Malaysia

Credits: NASA, ASI, ASA, AEB, CSA/ASC, JAXA, KARI, LSA, NZSA, PSA, SSAU, UAESA; CNSA, Roscosmos