In honor of the 55th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission, AIAA and the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum (NASM) organized a Summit on Outer Space Heritage at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center outside Washington D.C. The invited experts at the Summit explored outer space heritage sites from the perspectives of engineering, science, policy, cultural heritage, economics, and law. This was the first event where the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum and American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics collaborated on an event exploring the evolution of space heritage since the historic Apollo 11 mission, and the ways in which the Artemis Accords provides a framework for international partnerships and agreements regarding the sustainable exploration of space as well as the use of space-related resources.
The Artemis Accords have the ability to impact decisions regarding space preservation, scientific data collection, engineering research and development, professional opportunities, investment priorities, and the legal and policy-oriented frameworks that make building the off-world future possible. As lunar exploration activity increases, especially at the lunar South Pole, there is an urgent need for coordination, the establishment of common norms and practices, and the prevention of harmful interference between missions.
More details about the Summit can be found in the Payload article, “Preserving History On the Moon and Beyond.”
Please complete the form below to download a copy of the Outer Space Heritage Summit Report.
