Tuesday / 26 Sep 2023

NASA Team Suggests Framework for Consideration of Space Exploration Ethics in Artemis Era

Office of Technology, Policy, and Strategy (OTPS) report Artemis, Ethics and Society: Synthesis from a Workshop complies perspectives from 55 participants who gathered at NASA HQ to develop framework for moral evaluation of space exploration within the context of Artemis program and Artemis Accords, which proclaims ‘benefit for all humankind’, echoing Outer Space Treaty, National Aeronautics and Space Act, Moon Agreement; ~140 ethical / social issues deliberated under categories including definitions, decision-making, cultural values, sharing, environment, policy, and colonialism; OTPS to utilize proceedings to conduct internal study on key policy implications and open conversation to international partners

Pictured: Zachary Pirtle, Katherine McBrayer, Alyse Beauchemin of OTPS; Credits: NASA

Tuesday / 28 March 2023

Institute on Space Law & Ethics to Consider Moral Theory for Off-Earth International Conflict Resolution

Space heritage preservation organization For All Moonkind (FAM) to engage legal and philosophical issues around human activity, resource utilization and hostilities with newly launched institute; President (L-R) Michelle Hanlon of UMiss Air and Space Law cites recent use of commercial Earth observation in the Russia-Ukraine War as highlighting need for ethical investigation and understanding; SpaceX COO Gwynne Shotwell has spoken on non-weaponization of Starlink; FAM Institute on Space Law & Ethics cofounders include Dan Hawk of United First Nations Planetary Defense, Space Analyst Namrata Goswami, SETI scientist John Rummel

Credits: For All Moonkind Institute on Space Law and Ethics, LinkedIn, NASA

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 13-16 Jan 2023

As ispace Progresses Towards Moon, Significance of Planned First Lunar Mining Transaction Grows

Hakuto-R lander currently ~1,340,000km from Earth while ispace Mission Control working to execute series of deep space control maneuvers by late March in preparation for orbital insertion and first commercial soft landing in Atlas Crater (47.5°N, 44.4°E) NET late April; In addition to gathering environmental data and demonstrating various technologies, Hakuto-R Mission 1 to set precedent on commercial resource extraction by gathering regolith for sale to NASA under US$5,000 contract; Transaction sanctioned under US Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act of 2015, Japan Space Resources Act of 2021

Credits: ispace, MBRSC

Wednesday / 24 Aug 2022

Several Lunar Businesses to Participate During NewSpace 2022 Conference in Seattle

Space Frontier Foundation continues annual NewSpace series with 49 speakers including dynamic Moon businesses & ventures: Gateway Habitation and Logistics Outpost contractor Paragon Space CEO (L-R) Grant Anderson; Xcraft interplanetary / lunar orbital vehicle builder Xplore of Seattle WA COO Lisa Rich; Breaking Ground trust lunar regolith contracted customer Orbit Fab CEO Daniel Faber; Ardoride spacecraft builder Momentus CTO Rob Schwarz (launching to Moon orbit NET 2024 with Qosmosys); Blue Origin, continuing to advance Blue Moon lander and lunar-hardened technology, will be represented by private Astronaut / keynote speaker Audrey Powers

Credits: SFF, Northrop Grumman

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 9-12 July 2021

Moon Society Advancing Multi World Civilization: Property Rights and Lunar Acreage

Led by President Michael Mealling (R) with Support from President Emeritus Peter Kokh (C) and Vice President James Burk (L), The Moon Society Grew out of Artemis Project, Now Hosts Physical ‘Outposts’ in CA, AZ, WI, MO, TN, WA, TX and Virtual Mare Cognitum (Sea of Knowledge) Collaborating on Slack Workspace Platform with Goal of Lunar Settlement; Moon Miners’ Manifesto Published 1986-2019, Work Being Carried on by Luna City Press with Outbound Newsletter and Lunarpedia; Moon Base Design Contest Awards SGAC Team First Place for Domi Inter Astra (At Home Among the Stars) with Focus on ‘Polycentric’ Governance / Ownership Principles, Blockchain Intellectual Property Protections in Addition to Technical Life Support

Credits: The Moon Society, Space Generation Advisory Council Team, The Futurist Foundation

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 22-25 Jan 2021

‘Engage With China Through UN, Retain Space Council’ Say Prominent USA Scholars And Commercial Space Figures

As Chang’e-5 Begins Extended Solar Observation Mission With Bearing Toward Sun-Earth L1 Point, Princeton Professor Emerita Anne-Marie Slaughter (L) Makes Studied Argument For Broadly Inclusive, Multilateral Lunar Resources Treaty With Global Stakeholders Including China / Zhongguo, Suggests Implementation Via COPUOS / UNOOSA To Avoid “Race To Bottom” Competition For Strategic South Pole Territory, Water Ice And Rare Earth Elements; Mandy Vaughn (R) President Virgin Orbit Subsidiary VOX Space Promotes National Space Council Continuity, Voicing Opinion At NewSpace New Mexico Event NSC Critical For Interagency Cohesion

Credits: New America, NASA, NSSA

New Year 2021 Edition
Thur-Mon / 24 Dec 2020 – 4 Jan 2021

2020s Multi World Civilization: The Moon, Global Revolutions, Egalitarian Considerations

USA, Canada, China, India, Russia, Japan Commercial / National Efforts Towards Projecting Human Action To Moon Surface Are To Occur 2021; Crewed 2020s Landings Including First Woman On The Moon, Will Expand Sphere Of Female Activity Nearly 1,000,000,000X; Social / Moral / Legal Structure In Process Of Formation With Varied Approaches To Central Question Of Ownership – Viewed As Birthright Of Every Earth Inhabitant, A Land Share Arrangement Between ~8B Humans Allocating 9,383,748,198 Lunar Acres With Deference To ‘Right To Roam’ Of Antiquity And In Spirit Of Homesteading, Ensuring Access To Resources / Habitat, Would Be Equitable, Inclusive

Credits: NASA, CNSA, UN

Tuesday / 22 Dec 2020

‘Breaking Ground’ Trust Signs Agreement With Intuitive Machines, Aims To Be First Private Purchaser Of Lunar Material

Open Lunar Foundation Of Silicon Valley, Through ‘Purpose Trust’ Breaking Ground, Intends To Buy Moon Regolith From Multiple Sources, Experiment With Various Management Strategies; Privately Funded Group Cites 2015 USA, 2017 Luxembourg, 2020 UAE Space Legislation Interpreting Commercialization Of Extraterrestrial Resources As In Accordance With 1967 Outer Space Treaty; Trust Fashioned Along ‘Steward-Ownership’ Model; Transaction Between Private Parties Will Establish Norms / Framework For Earth-Moon Commerce; IM R&D VP Timothy Crain Says Initial Agreements Are “Building Blocks For Future Trade In The Solar System”

Credits: IM, OLF, ILOA Hawai’i, CSYS

Thanksgiving Weekend Edition
Wed-Mon / 25-30 Nov 2020

Proactive Measures On Property Rights Needed To Achieve Harmonious Lunar Development

Thought Leaders At Center For Astrophysics Harvard & Smithsonian, King’s College London And Missouri University Of Science & Technology Urge Serious Consideration Of Finite Materials (Water, Helium, Iron) And Locations (Peaks Of Eternal Light, Cold Traps, Level Building Sites) On Moon; Artemis Accords And Outer Space Treaty Need To Be Enhanced With Clear Guiding Principles Such As Those Set Forth By Moon Village Association To Avoid “Diverse Actors Pursuing Incompatible Ends” Vying For Areas “Both Few And Small” With Unfavorable Outcomes

 

Credits: NASA, SETI

Tuesday / 22 Sep 2020

AIAA In Conjunction With Dynetics Publishes Report On Requirements Of A Sustainable Moon Economy

Ensuring Economically Viable Lunar Settlement, Released 19 Sep, Summarizes Contributions Of 200+ Individuals From Academia, Industry And Government During ASCENDxCo-Lab On Economically Viable Lunar Settlements 29 July, Moderated By Kathy Laurini; Document Urges Engagement Of Terrestrial Expertise (e.g. Telecommunications, Mining, Energy, Transport, Logistics) And “Prompt Development Of Clear Regulatory And Legal Standards” From Government / Space Agencies Along With Funding Of Long Term Projects Such As Lunar Telescope; Defines Economic Viability As “Ultimately Underwritten By Private Capital”; Recognizes “New Figures Of Merit” Will Be Required To Evaluate Business Cases

Credits: ESA, NASA, AIAA ASCEND