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.

GETTING IT TOGETHER: THE ILRP !

Don't despair over the initials in the title.  They were put there intentionally;hopefully to pique your interest. ILRP stands for the International Lunar Research Park, a concept being developed and promoted by the Moon Society.  The following is a direct excerpt from the Society's website about the ILRP:

• "The Moon Society has been developing the concept of an International Lunar Research Park. A site would be prepared by a contractor or consortium of contractors who would build facilities needed by all the national agency participants: space port, power production, power storage, warehousing systems, repair facilities, a fleet of different types of vehicles and rovers for lease. By sharing these things, individual national lunar outposts can just plug in, and spend all their man hours doing the research they came to do. Academia and enterprise and even tourist facilities would be welcome. This is just the sort of outpost that could morph by expansion over time into the first true frontier town. This is a somewhat different formula for International cooperation than that which underlies the International Space Station where NASA is host and boss. In an ILRP, the principal contractor would be the host, national space agencies would be tenants or lessees."

This concept is such an organized idea of the international cooperation which we think is absolutely essential for all future space explorations (solar system and beyond).  We encourage you to explore this concept more fully by visiting, and hopefully joining, the Moon Society.

Even if you are not ready to join up, we urge you to consider increasing your special knowledge about Luna by acquiring the Moon Society's Lunar Study and Observation Certificate

ALL ABOUT ACCESS, HONORS AND SOVEREIGNTY

A review of the global history of human exploration clearly shows that those events were nationally inspired and supported with the exception of some outstanding individual ventures. Credit, or discredit, went to the country that supported the exploration program. This is also the case, to date, in our space exploration accomplishments with some very notable exceptions (NASA, ESA, JAXA ROSCOSMOS,, etc. combined projects) that include the International Space Station.

Our view is that future space exploration programs that involve our solar system and beyond should become, as much as possible, international efforts with full participation by as many nations as possible. Our previous blog post about a Global Space Congress (GSC) addresses this concept in more detail. It is anticipated that even within a global network there will be many single nation missions to explore deep space, and especially our Moon and some Near Earth Objects (asteroids and comets).

A major benefit to this arrangement is the establishment of a set of protocols that govern the exploration missions whether by an individual member country or a multi-national mission. The critical benefit, however, is a complete sharing of discoveries and data with all members of the GSC.  Additionally, no single member country, can claim sovereignty over all or part of an explored space object (planet, moon, asteroid).  Sovereignty always rests with the GSC.

Will the development of exploration protocols be a long and arduous task? We believe that will not be the case because there exists some excellent protocols that were created to govern the international exploration of Earth's South Pole region (Antarctica) as well as the Space Exploration protocols that have been developed by the United Nations (UNOOSA) The set of protocols for international exploration of the poles is contained in the ANTARCTIC TREATY.

Because the focus of this blog is on the exploration and development of a Moon Base, we envision an extraction of guidelines from the above two international protocols that would comprise the LUNEX Protocols that would govern the Moon Base Apollo program.  We believe this is necessary to give full consideration to eventual commercial ventures on the Moon and to insure that all member nations of the GSC and their commercial interests have full representation under the Lunex Protocols.  These special protocols would also attend to the need to preserve and protect what we term Moon Aesthetics.


Well, this would appear to be a sound approach, but seems to ignore the existence of the United Nations space programs.  We emphasize here that they are not being ignored, rather we envision extracting the entire structure away from the UN and into the structure of the GSC.  We urge this because the UN by design and nature can be too cumbersome in its response to the many issues that can arise in the full arena of space exploration.  Many of these issues will be very critical and possibly life threatening in nature and will require quicker and more effective reactions to those needs.  We see the GSC as the optimum application of that approach.

In summary, all of this is about relating all matters that pertain to space exploration to a global vision that clearly includes all citizens of planet Earth. As such this is a vital beginning to the ongoing evolution of humankind and the creation of a global space society. The mission, the hope, the goal is that we, the people of planet Earth go forth and explore in peace and with unity of purpose.

CREDITS:
Image: Apollo 9: EVAs by Astros Schweickart and Scott. Scott is shown exiting the CM. Schweickart started his spacewalk from the LM.  Photo courtesy of NASA.

Antarctic Treaty:  We wish to acknowledge the suggestion about the Antarctic Treaty that came from a fellow SpaceTweep(@fizzvicc) on Twitter.  It is an excellent approach that uses an existing and well respected treaty as a model. Thank You.

A PAUSE TO REFLECT

"The Moon is, above all, a witness to 4.5 billion years of solar system history, and it has recorded that history more completely and more clearly than has any other planetary body. Nowhere else can we see back with such clarity to the time when Earth and the other terrestrial planets—Mercury, Venus, an Mars—were formed and life emerged on Earth."  The forgoing statement is taken directly from the National Academies of Science report by its Committee on the Scientific Context for the Exploration of the Moon.  You may view and download a free copy (pdf) of the full report here.

The report was the outcome of a study that examined the value and scientific feasibility of a return to the Moon and associated robotic and human exploration activities.  This study was directly related to the then (2007) White House and NASA goals under the Vision For Space Exploration (VSE).  The VSE remained an active and ongoing program until its recommended cancellation by the Obama Administration.  At this point in time (June 2010) the United States Congress is still debating the legality and feasibility of the cancellation of what is known as the Constellation Program.

There are other sections in this report as well as additional NAS reports that we will quote as well as provide links that will further substantiate both the scientific validity and urgency for a full-scale Moon research program.  It is our opinion that the eventual establishment of a fully functional Moon Base will be the best way to accomplish all the scientific goals enumerated in the above report. Yes we will certainly venture forth throughout our solar system, but the information and science that we acquire on the Moon will better prepare us to fully evaluate our planetary neighbors and their histories.  It will also allow us to develop, in close proximity to Earth, the practices and procedures that insure that we do so safely and successfully.

The diagram on the right is taken directly from the referenced report and clearly shows the interrelated scientific issues that a Lunar Research Program would address.  To ignore this for the sake of some intermediary, Earthbound (Low Earth Orbits) program (other than the ongoing ISS program) is to further delay the essential investigations that our overall goals for deep space exploration demand.

In its Executive Summary, the report outlines eight key scientific concepts that should mandate a dedication exploration of the Moon.  Those concepts are as follows:

"1. The bombardment history of the inner solar system is uniquely revealed on the Moon.
2. The structure and composition of the lunar interior provide fundamental information on the evolution of a differentiated planetary body.
3. Key planetary processes are manifested in the diversity of lunar crustal rocks.
4. The lunar poles are special environments that may bear witness to the volatile flux over the latter part of solar system history.
5. Lunar volcanism provides a window into the thermal and compositional evolution of the Moon.
6. The Moon is an accessible laboratory for studying the impact process on planetary scales.
7. The Moon is a natural laboratory for regolith processes and weathering on anhydrous airless bodies.
8. Processes involved with the atmosphere and dust environment of the Moon are accessible for scientific study while the environment remains in a pristine state."


What is so clearly obvious here is that a structured and sustained Lunar research program provides us vital information not just about our own planet and its satellite, but a great deal about the evolution of our entire solar system.  This is sound and solid information that we should have and digest well before venturing forth blindly into deep regions of our solar system.  Therefore, we should pause and reflect upon the manifold benefits of a full scale Moon exploration program, and quickly move to get our space sciences back on tract.

CREDITS:
Moon Image: Astrophotograph by Waddell Robey through telescopes of the Slooh,com network. (c)02/12/2009
Lunar Science Diagram: from the NAS report from the Committee On the Scientific Context for the Exploration of the Moon (2007) National Research Council.

WHICH COMES FIRST?

Right now all the talk, among the public and in the halls of government, is about one nation launching a new mission to our Moon. The implications from each discussion are that whoever lands back on the Moon claims it. In our opinion this must be avoided at all costs. The Moon and any settlement on it is totally an international issue.

So, before we even begin to develop a new mission to the Moon, must we first establish the Global Space Congress we call for? We believe it should be the other way around. We start the new Moon mission, but with the participation of as many international invitees as possible. Like the International Space Station we declare the mission an international one. From this definite and positive beginning we then begin to build the structure of the GSC. We certify this, by making certain that when our mission lands back on the Moon we declare it an international achievement.  Ideally we signify this by planting an international banner instead of any one nation's flag on the surface of the Moon.

Ho hum! Here come the international lawyers and diplomats seeking to carve out prime spots both on the Moon and on the developing GSC.  We need to avoid this by clearly establishing in the staffing of the Moon mission a command hierarchy based on expertise and mission goals.  As we have seen, again, with the ISS, command assignments rotate. We should expect to do this as the rule on all future Moon missions as well as the eventual leadership of the Moon Base itself.

So, the protocol exists by virtue of what we have accomplished with the ISS. We need to extend and expand that protocol to be the rule for the Moon Base program. By following this existing procedure we do not delay progress in getting ready for the initial Moon mission while, as we specify, we start the building process of the Global Space Congress.  Can we do it?  Will we do it?  Well, where do we want humankind to be 100 years from now?  To answer that question we must start now, and start with Moon Base Apollo.

CREDITS: The image in this blog article is courtesy of NASA and is of the ISS Expedition 18 crew.