ILEWG Sorrento 2007 21-26

ILEWG release, 19 October 2007

International explorers prepare for a global village on the Moon

From 22 to 26 October, Sorrento, near Naples and the Vesuvio volcano
(I)
will be the "Capital of the Moon", when International Lunar
Explorers
gather at the 9th International Conference on Exploration and
Utilisation
of the Moon (ICEUM9) hosted by ASI Italian Space Agency and ESA and
organised together with the International Lunar Exploration Working
Group
(ILEWG).

“The purpose of the ICEUM9 conference", says Bernard H. Foing,
ILEWG
executive director and co-Chair of ICEUM9, "is to engage Lunar
Explorers
(young and old), scientists, engineers, industrial firms and
organisations
in the review of recent activities and the preparation of the next
steps
on the Moon. They will debate where on the Moon we can find
resources,
water, young volcanism, or how to build a robotic village or a human
base".

On 23 October, the SMART-1 team will present latest results from the
data
analysis, and unveil new polar image mosaics. SMART-1 maps and other
data,
as well as technology lessons are used to assist future missions and
the
definition of the next landers.

SMART-1 started an International Lunar Decade, and it is exciting
to see
other orbiters and landers now race to the moon: the Japanese Kaguya
is
just now orbiting the Moon and has detached its sub-satellites. The
Chinese Chang'E 1 orbiter is due to be launched on 24 October, and
the
Indian Chandrayaan-1 (that will carry three European instruments) is
preparing for Spring 2008. Last but not least, the NASA Lunar
Reconnaissance Orbiter and LCROSS impactor are scheduled for joint
launch
in October 2008.

More than 10 national space agencies representatives and ESA will
give the
latest news on their current lunar exploration activities and plans.

"Lunar experts will be busy to discuss science, technology, missions
and
plans", says Sylvie Espinasse, ASI representative and chair of the
Local
Organising Committee "and these informal exchanges are indispensable
to
favour future fruitful collaborations and this is fundamental to
sustain
long-term space exploration".

On 24-25 October, several splinter task groups will present their
work on
" Science of and from the Moon", "Living on the Moon", "Key
technologies",
"Utilisation of lunar resources", "Infrastructures for lunar bases",
"
Society, law, policy, economics", "Public outreach, education, arts,
multicultural aspects" .

Young Lunar Explorers (with support from ESA, ASI and ILEWG) will
organise
one of the sessions, to brainstorm, present their ideas, dreams and
hands-on lunar projects. They will reflect on low cost missions,
human
habitats, Lunar governance.

During the Lunar Science and Technology sessions on 24-25 October,
the
most recent discoveries on the Moon - notably the search for water
and
resources in polar regions- will be discussed. International
projects and
core technologies for lunar exploration will also be discussed, such
as:
propulsion systems, landers, rovers, robotic outposts, and habitats.

On 26 October, the ILEWG task groups will report on their work and
conclusions to the attendees. The participants will formulate the
"ILEWG2007 Sorrento Lunar declaration", and will express
recommendations
and inputs for International Lunar Explorers and space agencies.

ILEWG, The International Lunar Exploration Working Group (ILEWG) is
a
public forum created in 1994, sponsored by the world's space
agencies to
support "international cooperation towards a world strategy for the
exploration and utilization of the Moon - our natural satellite"
The charter of ILEWG is:
- To develop an international strategy for the exploration of the
Moon
- To establish a forum and mechanisms for the communication and
coordination of activities
- To implement international coordination and cooperation
- In order to facilitate communication among all interested parties
ILEWG
agrees to establish an electronic communication network for exchange
of
science, technology and programmatic information related to lunar
activities.
ILEWG meets regularly, at least, once a year, and leads the
organization
of an International Conference in order to discuss the state of
lunar
exploration. Formal reports are given at COSPAR meetings.

ILEWG website: http://sci.esa.int/ilewg (and references within on
lunar
missions)

Note to editors:
Plenary sessions on 23 Oct and 26 Oct are particularly suitable for
media
participation. Individual interviews, remote interviews
opportunities, and
a daily live web forum will be organised. All participants should
register, and media representatives are asked to contact the ICEUM9
organisation. Requests should be sent to iceum9@rssd.esa.int.

ICEUM9 conference programme and registration information
http://sci.esa.int/iceum9

ICEUM9 Contacts:
Prof. Bernard H. Foing (Senior Research Coordinator, ESA SCI-S &
Executive Director, ILEWG), Bernard.Foing@esa.int

Dr Sylvie Espinasse (ASI, chair of ICEUM9 Local Organising
Committee):
Sylvie.Espinasse@asi.it

Dr Dieter Isakeit, (Head of ESA/ESRIN Corporate Communication Office
LEX-COR): Dieter.Isakeit@esa.int, Tel. +39 06 94180 950