Under the MoU, LPP, COSPAR and IAU will leverage their respective strengths to achieve shared objectives and work together on joint projects in areas of shared interest, including but not limited to lunar science and ethics, lunar policy, capacity building, information sharing, international cooperation, and multistakeholder collaboration.
As a first joint project, the Parties have agreed to focus on lunar science and ethics and collaborate on the development of principles and practices for a balanced approach to lunar activities, building upon LPP’s Guide to Lunar Science & Ethics, which was recently presented at the 68th Session of the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, as well as COSPAR and IAU’s proposal for the identification of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), which was introduced earlier during the year at the 62nd Session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee of COPUOS (in collaboration with the International Academy of Astronautics and the Moon Village Association).
"We are honored and delighted to collaborate with two world-leading scientific institutions like COSPAR and IAU," said Dr. Antonino Salmeri, Director of LPP. "This MoU provides solid foundations for important collaborations in the years to come, strategically combining policy and scientific expertise to realize our shared vision for a peaceful, prosperous and cooperative lunar future".
Dr Pascale Ehrenfreund, COSPAR President, added: “In support of peaceful, safe, and sustainable lunar activities, COSPAR is committed to working with LPP and the IAU to strengthen international cooperation and promote science-informed space policies”.
Dr Willy Benz, IAU President, also noted: “In light of the growing interest in space exploration, it is crucial to establish guidelines for future lunar activities that will protect the Moon's unique features for future generations. The present collaboration between LPP, COSPAR and the IAU on this issue demonstrates the commitment of these leading scientific institutions to establishing guiding principles for future peaceful and sustainable activities on the Moon.”
For media inquiries, please contact:
LPP: lpp@lunarpolicyplatform.org
COSPAR: fergus@cosparhq.cnes.fr
IAU: rgreen@arizona.edu
About LPP
LPP is the first and only organization in the world dedicated to enable a peaceful, prosperous and cooperative future on the Moon through space law and policy. The mission of LPP is to create a conducive policy environment through the collaborative setting of priorities, policies and standards for peaceful, safe and sustainable lunar activities, including through a proposed Lunar Policy Decalogue. Every year, LPP runs annual consultations to gather the views of a wide network of over 35 stakeholders from all continents on high priority areas and identify common ground and diverging points between stakeholders. LPP operates as a non-profit organization based in The Netherlands and is managed by a team of world-wide recognized expert professionals in the space sector.
About COSPAR
COSPAR, the largest international scientific society dedicated to promoting global cooperation in space research, was established in 1958. It serves as a neutral platform for scientific dialogue among scientists from around the world. Today, COSPAR comprises 48 national scientific institutions and 13 international scientific unions, with 14,000 space scientists actively participating in its activities, including attending assemblies, contributing to panels and roadmaps, and publishing in its journals. COSPAR’s core mission is to facilitate dialogue and encourage international collaboration among space stakeholders across the globe. It operates through scientific commissions, panels and task groups that encompass all disciplines of space science, from Earth and atmospheric sciences to planetary science, astrophysics, solar and space plasma physics, and life and microgravity sciences. A recent focus of special importance to Moon-related activities has been on strengthening ties between science and industry by forming the Committee on Industry Relations, which includes 18 leading aerospace companies worldwide.
About IAU
The IAU is the international astronomical organisation that brings together about 13,000 distinguished astronomers from around the world. Its mission is to promote and safeguard the science of astronomy in all its aspects, including research, communication, education and development, through international cooperation. The IAU also serves as the internationally recognised authority for assigning designations to celestial bodies and the surface features on them. Founded in 1919, the IAU is the world’s largest professional body for astronomers.