Lunar Economy S4I Workshop Summary

There has been continuous human presence in Low Earth Orbit for more than 20 years now, but not one human beyond that line since 1972. So first, with all the emphasis we place today on commercial objectives, should not forget what we are: pioneers, who venture beyond the boundaries of the ultimate frontier: space.  

We shouldn’t forget that there is something, one may even call poetic about building an economy, which is to make something anew, it’s about creating a living ecosystem.

We, collectively, are the lunar economy: space agencies, private companies, universities and students, space enthusiasts. Working together and challenging each other.  

An economy is about exchanges, relationships, it’s about learning how to work together, across different nations, cultures and languages. It’s about making things that are useful for others, because nobody can make a business without making something that is needed. An economy is about solving problems and the lunar economy is not different in this respect. Its challenges are sure quite difficult, some barriers are higher, but by exercising our collective capability to solve these challenges we will make the lunar economy a reality. And more: this effort towards the lunar economy can be an international sandbox for human ingenuity.   

The challenges we face to explore the Moon and to make our presence on the Moon long-lasting this time, will be invaluable fuel for innovation and imagination. And God we need all our innovation and imagination, and courage, to reboot planet Earth and all our society as we know it, to solve the challenges of our times, of which climate change is just one of its names. So, to kickstart this lunar workshop, I would like to make a wish, that we keep this thought with us while we are building the lunar economy:  

Every time we do something new, we have the opportunity to make it better. 
Let’s make it count!