For All Moonkind

For All Moonkind, Inc. is a volunteer international nonprofit organization that works with the United Nations and the international community. Its goal is to help protect history and human heritage in outer space. The organization believes that important places on the Moon, like where astronauts landed, and items left there during space missions, are valuable to everyone.

Because many countries and companies plan to return to the Moon, there is a risk these historic sites could be damaged. For All Moonkind is pushing the United Nations to create rules to protect these lunar sites and other important places in space. This way, future explorers, colonists, or even tourists will not accidentally or intentionally harm these important parts of our shared history.

History

The organization was founded by Tim and Michelle Hanlon in 2017. It is named after text on the first lunar plaque left on the Moon by the Apollo 11 explorers. For All Moonkind works with space agencies to create plans to protect important sites and objects on the Moon and other planets.

The group has received support from the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs and has worked with private companies like PTScientists. In 2019, the United States passed a law to protect Apollo landing sites. In 2020, several countries signed the Artemis Accords, which include promises to preserve space heritage. In 2021, For All Moonkind created a digital registry of Moon landing sites, and in 2023, it started the Institute on Space Law and Ethics to study the moral issues of space exploration.

Human heritage in outer space

Space heritage refers to items and places related to exploring space, including both human trips and robotic missions. This includes important sites like Tranquility Base, where Apollo 11 landed on the Moon, as well as earlier missions such as the Luna programme, which sent the Luna 2 and Luna 9 spacecraft to the Moon.

It also covers satellites still orbiting Earth, such as Vanguard 1 and Asterix-1, even though they no longer work. The study of these space items is called space archaeology.

Advocacy

In December 2018, the United Nations General Assembly gave For All Moonkind special status for three years. This helped them work with the United Nations to protect important places and items from space missions.

In 2019, For All Moonkind helped create a law called the One Small Step Act. This law, supported by senators like Gary Peters and Ted Cruz, was passed to protect the Apollo landing sites on the Moon. The law became official on December 31, 2020, ensuring these historic sites are kept safe for future generations. The organization also shares its message on social media to raise awareness about preserving space history.

Leadership and advisory councils

For All Moonkind is run by volunteers with a Leadership Board and three Advisory Councils. The team includes space lawyers, scientists, and communications experts from around the world.

Notable members include astronaut Col. Mike Mullane, astronaut Col. Robert C. Springer, space historian Robert Pearlman, author James R. Hansen, and space entrepreneur Rick Tumlinson.