Incorporating Sustainability into Rationales for Lunar Settlement: Addressing Global Challenges through Lunar Sustainability Goals
- Paper number
IAC-19,D4,2,8,x53393
- Author
Mr. Scott Ritter, France, International Space University
- Coauthor
Mr. Cody Bauer, France, International Space University
- Coauthor
Ms. Julie Bausmayer, France, International Space University
- Coauthor
Ms. Orr Cohen, France, International Space University
- Coauthor
Mr. Abhishek Diggewadi, France, International Space University
- Coauthor
Ms. Katie Harris, France, International Space University (ISU)
- Coauthor
Mr. Aurelio Kaluthantrige, France, International Space University
- Coauthor
Ms. Monika Lipinska, France, International Space University
- Coauthor
Ms. Chenglan Liu, France, International Space University
- Coauthor
Mr. Linquan Mao, France, International Space University
- Coauthor
Mr. Pablo Melendres Claros, France, International Space University
- Coauthor
Ms. Charlotte Nassey, France, International Space University
- Coauthor
Ms. Lotte van Noetsele, France, International Space University
- Coauthor
Ms. Farnoosh Sheini Dashtgol, France, International Space University
- Coauthor
Mr. Andrew Townsend, France, International Space University
- Coauthor
Mr. Salvatore Vivenzio, France, International Space University (ISU)
- Coauthor
Mr. Jeremy Wain Hirschberg, France, International Space University
- Coauthor
Mr. Xing Xu, France, International Space University
- Coauthor
Mr. Fabio Zecca, France, International Space University
- Coauthor
Ms. Ana Cristina Baltazar Garduño, France, International Space University (ISU)
- Coauthor
Ms. Danijela Ignjatovic Stupar, France, International Space University (ISU)
- Coauthor
Prof. Volker Damann, France, International Space University
- Year
2019
- Abstract
Numerous space agencies, companies, and organizations have announced plans for returning people to the Moon and settling on the lunar surface for a variety of economic, technological, scientific, cultural, security, and political reasons. Despite this widespread interest in lunar settlement, current plans lack evaluations of sustainability, balanced rationale for why humanity should be invested, and the global societal issues these plans could address. It is critical to address these gaps in current lunar roadmaps because future lunar settlement must be seen as beneficial to society on Earth in order to maintain the long-term support that is required for these activities. To address these insufficiencies, this paper reviews both reasons for and against returning to the Moon and responds to criticisms for each to clearly communicate why humanity should invest in returning to the Moon. To maintain investment in lunar missions from humanity as a whole, and address global societal issues, Lunar Sustainability Goals were also developed to ensure that benefits reaped from returning to the Moon are continuous throughout all phases of lunar settlement. These fifteen goals, developed in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) Long Term Sustainability of Outer Space Guidelines, and in consultation with external advisors, are: (1) Open Access, (2) Peaceful Purposes, (3) Diversity and Opportunity, (4) International Cooperation, (5) Education and Outreach, (6) Environmental Protection, (7) Heritage Protection, (8) Health and Safety, (9) Sustainable Transportation, (10) Standardization, (11) Space Debris Prevention, (12) Zero Waste, (13) Sustainable Energy, (14) Sustainable In-Situ Resource Utilization, and (15) Earth Applications. Ultimately, these goals, along with their accompanying targets and drivers, help frame the contribution of future lunar activities in terms of the value generated for people on Earth, and how this value can be achieved sustainably.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-19,D4,2,8,x53393.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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