On September 9, 2020, senior\nmanagers representing 23 space agencies gathered virtually for a meeting of the\nInternational Space Exploration Coordination Group (ISECG) with the purpose of\npromoting coordinated efforts in human and robotic space exploration on and\naround the Moon and Mars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During this meeting, the senior managers highlighted the importance and benefits of international cooperation and coordination to better advance each agency\u2019s goals in space exploration. They recognised the just published \u201cGlobal Exploration Roadmap Supplement \u2013 Lunar Surface Exploration Scenario Update<\/a>\u201d as representative of another major milestone in progress of international space exploration collaboration. This non-binding ISECG document builds on the 2018 Global Exploration Roadmap<\/a> and captures recent worldwide advances in lunar exploration planning with an updated lunar surface scenario and joint lunar surface exploration objectives. The supplement also reflects the latest missions and plans from nine new ISECG members and describes emerging national and commercial capabilities to broaden available options for future exploration initiatives towards the Moon and Mars. In the coming months, ISECG agencies will continue to assess technology gaps for exploration and the exploration scenario to further elaborate lunar exploration activities and prepare for the first human mission to Mars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A\nmajor focus of the meeting was discussions on recent developments in space\nexploration and associated opportunities for additional space agency\ncollaboration. The senior\nagency managers also remarked on the great interest in lunar exploration\nexpressed by ISECG members across the globe reflecting high expectations for\nexciting new achievements in lunar science and exploration. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The\nsenior agency managers took the opportunity to welcome the new members from\nBrazil (AEB) and Thailand (GISTDA), which joined ISECG since the last senior\nagency managers meeting in March, bringing ISECG membership to 24 agencies. The\nnew members expressed their great interest to engage in the work of ISECG and\nto pursue new opportunities for cooperation with international entities towards\nmutual goals in exploration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The agencies agreed to further encourage\nglobal participation in ISECG, in particular reaching out to countries with\nemerging space programs. Fostering diversity of the forum will further broaden\nthe opportunities for coordination and offer new ways of working together.\nFurthermore, senior agency managers underlined the importance of communicating\nthe numerous benefits from space exploration that deliver high returns for the\ninvested funds to societies and economies. In this context, space agencies\nconsider reaching out to and inspiring the young generation essential to\nimplement ambitious plans for exploration of the Moon and Mars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n During\nthe meeting the role of ISECG Chair transitioned from the Japan Aerospace\nExploration Agency (JAXA) to the Canadian Space Agency (CSA). The agencies\nthanked JAXA for its dedicated leadership, in particular for guiding the\ndevelopment of the updated lunar surface exploration scenario and the\npublication of the respective Supplement to the Global Exploration Roadmap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This virtual meeting included\nrepresentatives from the Brazilian Space Agency (AEB), Australian Space Agency\n(ASA)\/Australian Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation\n(CSIRO), Italian Space Agency (ASI), French Centre National d\u2019Etudes Spatiales\n(CNES), China National Space Administration (CNSA), Canadian Space Agency\n(CSA), German Aerospace Center (DLR), European Space Agency (ESA),\nGeo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA, Thailand),\nIndian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency\n(JAXA), Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI), Luxembourg Space Agency\n(LSA), US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Norwegian Space\nAgency (NOSA), Polish Space Agency (POLSA), Romanian Space Agency (ROSA),\nRussian State Space Cooperation (Roscosmos), State Space Agency of the Ukraine\n(SSAU), Swiss Space Office (SSO), United Arab Emirates Space Agency (UAE SA)\nand UK Space Agency (UKSA).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" On September 9, 2020, senior managers representing 23 space agencies gathered virtually for a meeting of the International Space Exploration Coordination Group<\/p>\n