For All Moonkind

For All Moonkind, Inc. is an entirely volunteer international nonprofit organization which seeks to work with the United Nations and the international community to manage the preservation of history and human heritage in outer space.[1] The organization believes that the lunar landing sites and items from space missions are of great value to the public and is pushing the United Nations to create rules that will protect lunar items and secure heritage sites on the Moon and other celestial bodies.[2] Protection is necessary as many nations and companies are planning on returning to the Moon, and it is not difficult to imagine the damage an autonomous vehicle or an errant astronaut—an explorer, colonist or tourist—could to one of the Moon landing sites, whether intentionally or unintentionally.[3][4][5]

Formed in 2017, the organization aims to work with space agencies around the world to draw up a protection plan which will be submitted to the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space in the summer of 2018.[6][7] The goal is to present the international community with a program that is pre-agreed so that they cannot turn it down.[8] The effort will be modeled on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's World Heritage Convention.[9][10][11] Simonetta Di Pippo, current the Director of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs has acknowledged the work of For All Moonkind and confirmed that UNOOSA supports and facilitates international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space.[12] In November 2017, the UNOOSA United Arab Emirates High Level Forum 2017 also acknowledged the work of For All Moonkind and recommended that the international community should consider proclaiming universal heritage sites in outer space.[13] And in January 2018, a draft resolution being considered by the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space Scientific and Technical Subcommittee recommended the creations of "a universal space heritage sites programme . . . with specific focus on sites of special relevance on the Moon and other celestial bodies."[14]

One of the first human steps on the Moon

For All Moonkind is also working directly private companies to preserve human heritage in outer space. German company PTScientists, which is planning to send a rover to revisit the Apollo 17 landing site, was the first private company to make a public pledge of support for For All Moonkind.[15] American company Astrobotic Technology, which is developing space robotics technology for Moon and planetary missions, Indian Team Indus, multinational Synergy Moon and the asteroid mining company, Planetary Resources have also pledged to support the protection and preservation of human heritage in outer space.

In February 2018, For All Moonkind was named a Top Ten Innovator in Space in 2018 "for galvanizing agencies to preserve Moon artifacts." [16] In May 2018, the organization announced that it is teaming up with TODAQ Financial to map heritage sites on the Moon using blockchain.[17] And in June 2018, the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space recommended that the United Nations General Assembly grant to For All Moonkind Observer status, on a provisional basis, for a period of three years, pending on the status of their application for consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council.[18]

Human heritage in outer space

Space heritage has been defined as heritage related to the process of carrying our science in space; heritage related to crewed space flight/exploration; and human cultural heritage that remains off the surface of planet Earth.[19] The field of space archaeology is the research-based study of all the various human-made items in outer space.[20] Human heritage in outer space includes the Apollo 11 lunar landing site and the robotic and crewed sites that preceded and followed Apollo 11. This also comprises all the Luna Programme vehicles, including the Luna 2 (first object) and Luna 9 (first soft-landing) missions, the Surveyor program and Yutu.

Human heritage in outer space also includes satellites like Vanguard 1 and Asterix-1 which, though nonoperational, remain in orbit.

History

The organization was founded by Michelle and Tim Hanlon in 2017. In February 2018, For All Moonkind was named a Top Ten Innovator in Space in 2018 "for galvanizing agencies to preserve Moon artifacts." [21] In May 2018, the organization announced that it is teaming up with TODAQ Financial to map heritage sites on the Moon using blockchain.[22] And in June 2018, the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space recommended that the United Nations General Assembly grant to For All Moonkind the status of observer, on a provisional basis, for a period of three years, pending on the status of their application for consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council.[18]

Leadership and Advisory Councils

For All Moonkind is an entirely volunteer endeavor with a Leadership Board and three Advisory Councils. The team includes space lawyers and policymakers, scientists and technical experts – including space archaeologists – and communications professionals from around the world.

Noteworthy members include:

References

  1. ↑ Balli, Cecilia. "We Made History on the Moon. But How Do We Preserve It?". HoustonChronicle.com. The Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  2. ↑ Lyca, Lim. "For All Moonkind Organization Advocates to Protect the Moon". Blasting News. Blasting News. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  3. ↑ Georgetown University. "Moon Mission: Georgetown Grads Seek to Protect Lunar Landing Sites". Georgetown.edu. Georgetown University. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  4. ↑ Oberhaus, Daniel. "The Nonprofit Wants to Protect the Lunar Landing Sites". Motherboard.vice.com. Motherboard. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  5. ↑ Oberhaus, Daniel. "The Nonprofit Wants to Protect the Lunar Landing Sites". Motherboard.vice.com. Motherboard. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  6. ↑ Leonard David, "For All Moonkind: Protect the Apollo Landing Sites!" 9 August 2017, online: http://www.leonarddavid.com/for-all-moonkind-protect-the-apollo-landing-sites/
  7. ↑ Shepherd, Ken. "Nonprofit Group Calls for U.N. Protection of Lunar Landing Sites, Moon-Mission Artifacts". Washingtontimes.com. The Washington Times. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  8. ↑ Wall, Mike. "New Group Works to Preserve Apollo Lunar Landing Sites". ScientificAmerican.com. Scientific American. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  9. ↑ Mike Wall, "Moon History: Group Works to Protect Apollo Landing Sites," 16 August 2017, online: https://www.space.com/37799-apollo-landing-sites-preservation-for-all-moonkind.html
  10. ↑ Balli, Cecilia. "We Made History on the Moon. But How Do We Preserve It?". HoustonChronicle.com. The Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  11. ↑ Bachman, Justin. "The Battle for the Moon Begins". Bloomberg.com. Bloomberg. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  12. ↑ "#SpacewatchME Interviews: Simonetta Di Pippo of UNOOSA About the High Level Forum Dubai 2017," November 2017, online: https://spacewatchme.com/2017/10/spacewatchme-interviews-simonetta-di-pippo-of-unoosa-about-high-level-forum-dubai-2017/
  13. ↑ http://www.unoosa.org/documents/pdf/hlf/HLF2017/HLF_recommendations.pdf
  14. ↑ http://www.unoosa.org/oosa/oosadoc/data/documents/2018/aac.105c.1l/aac.105c.1l.364_0.html
  15. ↑ https://spacewatchme.com/2017/12/private-space-company-return-apollo-17-landing-site-carefully/
  16. ↑ "The World's Most Innovative Companies 2018". fastcompany.com. Fast Company. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
  17. ↑ "Nonprofit Wants to Map Lunar Heritage Sites Using Blockchain".
  18. 1 2 "Draft report: Chapter III Recommendations and decisions" (PDF). Vienna: UN General Assembly Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space. 28 June 2018.
  19. ↑ https://www3.astronomicalheritage.net/index.php/show-theme?idtheme=20
  20. ↑ Smith, Kiona. "Is Space the Next Frontier for Archaeology". arstechnica.com. Ars Technica. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  21. ↑ "The World's Most Innovative Companies 2018". fastcompany.com. Fast Company. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
  22. ↑ "Nonprofit Wants to Map Lunar Heritage Sites Using Blockchain".
  23. ↑ https://networks.h-net.org/node/5299/reviews/191547/mccune-westwood-and-oleary-and-donaldson-final-mission-preserving
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