Horizon 2061: MoonVillage Perspectives for Science, Missions, Technologies, Infrastructures and Society

Abstract

We discuss MoonVillage Perspectives at Horizon 2061 addressing Science, Missions, Technologies, Infrastructures and Society. ESA, ILEWG and partners have been elaborating the concept of a Moon Village with the goal of a sustainable human presence and activity on the lunar surface as an ensemble where multiple users can carry out multiple activities, This enterprise can federate all interested Nations and partners. The Moon represents a prime choice for political, programmatic, technical, scientific, operational, economical and inspirational reasons. Why the Moon Village? The Moon Village has the ambition to serve a number of objectives (including planetary science, life sciences, astronomy, fundamental research, resources utilization, human spaceflight, economic development, etc. ) to the community and should be the catalyst of new alliances between public and private entities including non-space industries. Additionally the Moon Village should provide a strong inspirational, capacity building, workforce development and education tool for the younger generations. Previous and ongoing projects are relevant to Moon Village. Future space exploration is building on the International Space Station, and on the current and upcoming automatic and planetary robotic missions. COSPAR and its ILEWG International Lunar Exploration Working Group (created 25 years ago) have been supporting opportunities of collaboration between lunar missions and exchange on future projects [4-8]. A flotilla of lunar orbiters has been deployed for science and reconnaissance in the last international lunar decade (SMART-1, Kaguya, Chang'E1&2, Chandrayaan-1, LCROSS, LRO, GRAIL, LADEE). De facto, collaborative opportunities and elements of a Robotic Village on the Moon exist, as China landed in 2013 the Chang'E3 and its Yutu rover, and ChangÉ 4 on the FarSide in 2019. Other landers are planned (Chang'E 5, Chandrayaan-3, SLIM, Luna 25-27, CLPS, etc..). Programmes towards humans in lunar orbit, on the lunar surface and sustainable Moonbases are also advancing (Artemis, China, Commercial) . We discuss also the MoonVillage in the frame of "Planetary Exploration, Horizon 2061" long-term foresight exercise initially proposed by the Air and Space Academy and led by scientists, engineers and technology experts heavily involved in planetary sciences and in the space exploration of the Solar System. This exercise involved three successive steps designed to progressively build what we called the four "pillars" of Planetary Exploration: 1. our major scientific questions on planetary systems; 2. the different types of space missions that we need to fly to address these questions; 3. the key technologies we need to master to make these missions flyable; 4. the ground-based and space-based infrastructures needed in support to these missions. Bernard Foing (1,2), Michel Blanc (3) , MoonVillage & ILEWG Task Groups & Horizon 2061 Team, (1) ESA ESTEC, Noordwijk, The Netherlands; (2) ILEWG International Lunar Exploration Working Group, (3) IRAP Toulouse