MOON SCIENCE, AN INTERNATIONAL COMMITMENT.

The following is a direct quote from the NASA Lunar Science Institute's (NLSI) mission statement:

1. "carrying out and supporting collaborative research in lunar science, investigating the Moon itself, and using the Moon as a unique platform for other investigations,"
2. "providing scientific and technical perspectives to NASA on its lunar research programs, including developing investigations for current and future space missions,"
3. "supporting development of the lunar science community and training the next generation of lunar science researchers; and,"
4. "supporting Education and Public Outreach by providing scientific content for K-14 education programs, and communication directly with the public."

Those four major tasks are certainly more than just a passing notice of the scientific importance of getting to know our Moon better and more fully.  It is a positive indicator that planetary scientists recognize the valuable contribution Lunar studies will make toward our understanding of our solar system.  The idea of a Moon Base is included in those mission plans and in actuality propose a practice that closely parallels the concept of an International Lunar Research Park proposed by the Moon Society.

NSLI is already living up to its commitment for an international representation on its staff. Currently the scientific staff membership includes scientists from Canada, Korea, United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, and Israel. The list of foreign partners will continue to expand as additional scientists join NSLI.  This commitment to an international research effort clearly and officially recognizes that the Moon belongs to all humankind and is not the unique possession of any one nation.

The LADEE project: An imminent mission is the launching of an investigative spacecraft to examine the lunar atmosphere and dust environment with the project acronym LADEE. The planning calls for a launch schedule for the year 2011. The purpose is to gather basic environmental data before it is disrupted by increased and extended human operations on the Moon.  The spacecraft is planned as an orbiter rather than a rover.

Want to learn more? Visit the NSLI website here, and also you can elect to directly address questions to a Lunar Scientist.  Most importantly as you can see, the Moon is not a forgotten mission objective, despite current political decisions.  We all have a responsibility in this regard to not let NSLI lapse into Moon dreams by being advocates for its programs and for full WhiteHouse and Congressional support of the international exploration of the Moon.

MOONSCAPE 2020

By the year 2020, somebody will be on the Moon. It may be just a few robots, or it may be the initial landing of the first Moon-base-creation team. They could be speaking one or more of several languages, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, but not English. This, at least, is the way it looks right now as far as the continued exploration of our Moon. It is our opinion this is dreadfully wasteful of international resources. We could also be looking at the national ego effect that pushes away each space oriented nation from participating in a program such as the International Lunar Research Park ( ILRP)

Yes, as many private space interests have expressed, there will be industrial ventures on the Moon. The challenge is that those ventures should be within the context of an international governing body that insures that the Moon's resources and habitat are properly protected and that no single private entity controls industrial access at the expense of other nations. The Moon, after all, is a global property and must be openly and carefully shared. These issues introduce the question as to why the United States remains uninvolved since it, until recently, was the world's leading space science nation? Again, it is our opinion that the United States should have been the front-runner in helping UNOOSA foster the ILRP concept.

Scientists are confirming that there is more water on the Moon that was originally suspected. This further encourages a carefully planned and staffed international research effort.  For this to be realized the United States needs to get fully involved again and rethink its space exploration strategies.  Sure exploring asteroids have striking benefits that may also have great industrial potential, but these are intermediate objectives and should take second place to a grand international exploration strategy.

Earth views as seen from the Moon will begin to give us both inspiration and solid science that will further global efforts to protect and sustain our home planet.  Certainly, as this video displays, we have lots of LEO views of our planet, but we need to have the kind of observational research that a lunar observatory would provide.Additionally, there is a strong psychological imperative that develops as we observe our planet from the Moon.  This is an imperative that just does not fully develop from our monitoring of satellite imagery.

At this point what will it take over the next decade to redirect America's efforts toward both Moon exploration and the direct development and support of an international research program?  If we let our valid but diverse public and civil space exploration interests disperse our focus we stand to fall further behind in our role in global space exploration. This will seriously jeopardize the measured and productive research of our solar system; beginning with our Moon. So wake up, get up, and join up and speak out. Now, if you please.

CREDIT:
Satellite imagery from the Clementine Project of the Moon's North Pole.

THE TOGETHERNESS STRUCTURE: UNOOSA

In a previous blog article, we talked about the Moon Society and its goal for an International Lunar Research Park. We need to balance this with broader international goals such as those proposed by the United Nations Office of Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA).  A key indicator of their activities to stimulate the application of space sciences for the betterment of humankind is contained in their publication "Space Solutions For The Worlds Problems".  In our ongoing concentration on our own exploration goals, including a Moon Base, we should, actually must, coordinate those plans within the UN structure.

Well now, the above comment seems to defy our earlier call for a Global Space Congress.  Actually we think, if anything, it underscores the importance of a working interrelationship to strengthen both UNOOSA and a new entity such as the GSC.  Yes, the UN does get tied up in its legislative processes, and the concept of the GSC seeks to work around those delays.  This does not mean that the two entities are in opposition or uncooperative.  It is better to view the GSC as the action body of UNOOSA's deliberative and legislative actions. For any of this to work, both organizations would need to structure and re-structure themselves to be responsive and mutually supportive.  Can it work. We think it can, but the first move is for more civil and private organizations to become more familiar with UNOOSA and its workings, and for UNOOSA to broaden its scope of understanding of both national and international goals regarding space exploration.

Right now, we are a long, long way from becoming a space faring world civilization. UNOOSA's efforts of linking the space sciences and space exploration to the benefiting of troubled areas of this planet, reinforces our efforts to create such a society.  If the GSC comes into existence, it should pledge full commitment to supporting the UN's space related programs.  It is a totally win, win cooperative evolution.