For All Moonkind

For All Moonkind, Inc. is a volunteer international nonprofit organization. It 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 started 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 astronauts. For All Moonkind helps space agencies make plans to protect important places and things on the Moon and other planets.

The group has support from the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs and works with companies like PTScientists. In 2019, the United States made a law to protect Apollo landing spots. In 2020, many countries signed the Artemis Accords, agreeing to care for space history. In 2021, For All Moonkind made a digital list of Moon landing sites, and in 2023, it began the Institute on Space Law and Ethics to look at the big questions of space exploration.

Human heritage in outer space

Space heritage means the things and places connected to exploring space. This includes human trips and robotic missions.

Important places include Tranquility Base, where Apollo 11 landed on the Moon. It also includes earlier missions like the Luna programme. This programme sent the Luna 2 and Luna 9 spacecraft to the Moon.

It 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 led by volunteers on a Leadership Board and three Advisory Councils. The team includes space lawyers, scientists, and communications experts from many countries.

Well-known members are astronaut Col. Mike Mullane, astronaut Col. Robert C. Springer, space historian Robert Pearlman, author James R. Hansen, and space entrepreneur Rick Tumlinson.