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International Conference on Moon Held at Udaipur The
Sixth International Conference on the Exploration and Utilisation
of the Moon (ICEUM6) was held at the picturesque and historical city
of Udaipur during November 22-26, 2004. ICEUM6 was
ICEUM6 was significant in the context of India’s scientific mission to moon, Chandrayaan-1, which is planned by 2007 as well as a number of missions to moon being planned during the current decade. Already SMART-1 lunar probe of ESA is in lunar orbit. LUNAR-A and SELENE by Japan, Chang’E by China and the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and Moonrise by USA are planned during the next few years. A continuous presence of a variety of space probes is expected on or around the moon till the end of this decade offers excellent opportunities for international collaboration. ICEUM6 was a week long gathering of space agency representatives, scientists and engineers, astronomers, entrepreneurs, educators, professionals and enthusiasts seeking to develop global and inter-global understandings, strategies, initiatives and enterprises leading to a permanent human presence on the moon. No
wonder that the conference received an overwhelming response with
the participation of more than 150 delegates representing 15 countries,
including Australia, Canada, China, Germany, France, The Netherlands,
UK and USA. The conference programme included reviews as well as invited
talks. A posters session was also organised. The
President of India, Dr A P J Abdul Kalam, himself a space technologist,
addressed the group with an insightful vision and made recommendations
for international activities pertaining to exploration of the moon
for the benefit of humankind. The
first International Lunar conference under the aegis of International
Lunar Exploration Working Group was held in Beatenberg (Switzerland
1994) followed by Kyoto (Japan-1996), Moscow (Russia - 1998), Noordwijk
(The Netherlands-2000) and Hawaii (USA – 2002). The
ICEUM6 included programme for young lunar explorers; science of, from
and on the moon; robotics, engineering, space flight dynamics, navigation
and control; programmes of future lunar exploration and the development
of lunar bases; lunar exploration programmes of international space
agencies; first results from ESA’s SMART-1 mission; Chandrayaan-1,
Chang’E missions; status of Lunar-A and SELENE Missions; future
missions to moon and the next generation science and technology missions
to moon. In addition, round table discussions were held on science
questions and priorities, international collaboration and moon-mars
roadmap as well as technology and resources utilisation. The
Udaipur declaration made at the end of ICEUM6 acknowledged that fundamental
science questions about the moon remain to be addressed, not only
to understand the early history of the earth/moon system and its current
environment, but also to acquire knowledge for the next steps of exploration
and human utilisation. Of prime importance is the formation and evolution
of terrestrial planets, including the origin of the moon. Central
to this is the impact history including the absolute timing of early
events such as the giant basins. A major unknown is also the internal
structure of the moon, both its geophysical and compositional properties.
The moon is a natural laboratory for studying interaction with the
space environment, together with the products resulting in the polar
deposits. Recognising
that the lunar exploration programme must later include advanced orbital
instruments as well as in-situ analyses from several surface stations
and targeted sample return, ICEUM6 urged broad and open discussion
and coordination for selections of landing sites to optimise the science
return and benefit for exploration. The
declaration further said, “We believe that exploration and utilisation
of the Moon will bring global benefits to humankind as well as serve
national needs, and we recommend an international plan for implementation.
The participants endorse the ILEWG stepwise approach, starting with
joint science analysis from ongoing precursor missions (Smart-1, Lunar-A,
Selene, Chang’E, Chandrayaan-1, Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter,
Moonrise), continuing with lunar landers cooperating into an international
lunar robotic village before 2014, evolving technologies for man-tended
missions and preparing the ground for an effective, affordable human
lunar exploration and permanent presence by 2024. We encourage space
agencies to coordinate and integrate their plans in a robust international
Moon-Mars roadmap in coordination with the ILEWG roadmap, where the
partners can identify their contribution for an effective implementation
using their skills.” To move forward with mission implementation, ICEUM6 urged space agencies to study and coordinate international lunar infrastructure and assets such as telecommunication, navigation, logistics and lunar internet, which are necessary for an effective lunar exploration. The conference specifically recommended coordination of international efforts for the establishment of “standards” to facilitate lunar exploitation and settlement – e.g., use of the metric system, well-characterised lunar soil stimulants, common data formats and instrument interfaces, frequency and power. It urged for the establishment of a standard lunar geodetic network and also recommended that the “Moon Treaty” be revisited, refined and revised as necessary in the light of the present-day impetus for expeditions, both robotic and human, to the moon by several nations.
ICEUM6 believes that missions to moon have an enormous potential to inspire both children as well as their parents because the moon is visible to all and is within our reach to visit. The Udaipur conference encouraged young scientists of different fields and nations to join this activity and work together in realising lunar exploration goals. The
next International Conference on Exploration and Utilisation of the
Moon is planned in Canada during September 2005 which will be followed
by the conference in China during July 2006.
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