Overview

TO THE MOON, TO STAY Returning to the Moon is humanity’s first step back into deep space, and that step is critical for ensuring that future steps follow the correct path. Several space actors, including space agencies, are proposing a number of activities for the Moon, ranging from building space telescopes and solar power plants to habitats and settlements for humans. In order to enable deep space missions to establish humans as an interplanetary species, a strong political, social, economical, technological, and scientific foundation is required that will withstand the test of time. Therefore, the Purpose section of our project establishes “why” we should return to the Moon, the Roadmap section establishes “what” is required in order to make a Moon base a reality and “when” these phases may occur, and the Lunar Sustainability Goals establish “how” lunar missions should be conducted in order to create a sustainable human presence on another celestial body. It is with these goals that we hope to evoke new ways of thinking about lunar settlement for decision makers within the space community and inspire future generations to take care of the Moon as seriously as we care for the Earth. OUR MISSION: To shift the discourse about the Moon towards sustainability by creating a framework that enables people to benchmark lunar activities; ensuring the sustainable use of the Moon and cislunar space. Our framework is made publicly available and we invite people from all over the world to work with us to evolve our Lunar Sustainability Goals, and help us achieve our mission of ensuring space is used sustainably.