By Michel Blanc, Professor Emeritus, IRAP, University of Toulouse, Chairman of COSPAR's Exploration Panel, member of AAE.
Lunar exploration is the first step towards future human missions to Mars. It also has its own objectives: scientific research, exploitation of local resources, services for astronauts, and perhaps even tourism.
At a time of heightened environmental awareness on our own planet, space agencies and private players, with the support of various international organizations, must build together, under the auspices of the United Nations, a balanced, equitable and sustainable use of lunar resources that will preserve humanity's common heritage on the Moon for future generations.