1st Workshop on Enabling Sustainable and Responsible Lunar Activities
It is our pleasure to announce that the Independent Safety Office of the European Space Agency together with an International Technical Steering Committee is organising a workshop on Enabling Sustainable & Responsible Lunar Activities. This first edition will take place on 3rd to 5th of June 2026, at ESA/ECSAT (United Kingdom).
With the renewed global interest in lunar exploration and the rapid increase in planned commercial and private missions, the Moon is entering a new era of sustained activity, The evolving landscape brings significant opportunities, but also raises important challenges related to safety, sustainability, and long-term management. Addressing these challenges requires early international coordination, open exchange of experience, and a shared understanding of good practices to ensure safe and sustainable lunar activities.
This workshop will bring stakeholders together to address key safety and sustainability priorities, including:
1. Preventing accumulation of debris and waste in lunar orbit and on the surface,
2. Protecting Lunar regions and orbits of interest,
3. Safeguarding future human lunar missions
4. Enabling International coordination for sustainability and safety of lunar activities.
The workshop will promote multidisciplinary discussions across four key domains:
- planetary protection: addressing lunar-specific considerations such as the identification of protected regions, management of biological and organic contamination, and implications for future exploration and science
- debris mitigation: covering mitigation strategies in lunar orbit and end-of-life disposal approaches (including impact or landing), with the aim of minimizing long-term risks
- nuclear power safety: focusing on safety aspects of nuclear power sources across design, launch, operations, and end-of-life, in line with existing standards and practices
- human spaceflight: addressing safety considerations for crewed lunar missions, including mission design, surface operations, interaction with the lunar environment, and the protection of astronauts in the context of evolving and increasingly complex lunar activities
Rather than focusing on these topics individually, the workshop aims to foster a comprehensive, cross-cutting technical discussion.
As a first edition, this workshop provides a unique opportunity to strengthen coordination, share experience, and build a common understanding of good practices for safe, sustainable, and responsible lunar activities, drawing on existing policy frameworks, mission experience, and ongoing research.
Registration is open to stakeholders worldwide, including operators, manufacturers, industry representatives, research institutions, academia, and space agencies.