By Aahil
November 02, 2022
A recent NASA analysis concluded that protecting the historic Apollo landing sites is a worry with more than 20 missions aiming to land on the moon by 2026.
After studying the obstacles of many moon trips, NASA's Office of Technology, Policy, and Strategy issued its "Lunar Landing and Operations Policy Analysis" on Tuesday.
We predict 22 lunar surface missions in four years. The moon's south pole will host half of these missions.
Only some of the robotic and human moon-bound missions causing concern are led by NASA and its international and commercial partners under the Artemis programme.
The OTPS research confirms past attempts to secure and preserve the 1960s and 1970s Apollo and Surveyor landing sites.
Nine years later, Congress passed the "One Small Step to Protect Human Heritage in Space Act requiring NASA to hold contractors and partners to the guidelines.
NASA's Artemis Accords incorporated human heritage site preservation.
NASA's 2011 proposals for the Apollo and Surveyor sites and commercial and international collaborations be implemented as mandated by law.
The Artemis Accords recommend protecting active surface operations from surrounding missions and activities.
The OTPS analysis explored various policy issues connected to rapid lunar exploration.
To avoid exploitation, such as territory claims or displacing other moon-based entities, the report recommends transparency before and throughout policy implementation.