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Under President Biden and Vice President Harris’ leadership, the U.S. government has made historic investments in federal research and development that position the United States for the future in space exploration, science, and technology. The United States is in an exciting era of possibility, particularly in Cislunar space, where there is tremendous opportunity to work with international partners to advance science, physics, and our understanding of the universe, and to inspire new opportunities for economic growth for everyone on Earth.

Today, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) is announcing new actions to advance the goals outlined in the November 2022 National Cislunar Science and Technology Strategy:

  • OSTP is releasing the first-ever U.S. government policy memorandum on the establishment of reference systems at the Moon. A shared understanding of reference systems at the Moon is essential for safe navigation, scientific discovery, and commercial activity, just as it is at Earth. Space situational awareness, for example, relies on the ability to unambiguously describe the positions of all crewed and uncrewed vehicles, regardless of operator. This memorandum directs NASA to work with federal agencies and international partners to develop an implementation plan for establishment of lunar reference systems no later than December 31, 2026, and complements the Policy on Celestial Time Standardization.
  • OSTP is releasing the National Cislunar Science and Technology Action Plan to drive progress on specific science and technology objectives that support U.S. leadership in Cislunar space. The Plan outlines specific actions that the U.S. government should take over the next five years to enable responsible, peaceful, and sustainable exploration and use of Cislunar space.  These specific actions advance the goals outlined in the National Cislunar Science and Technology Strategy, including: supporting research and development to enable long-term growth in Cislunar space; expanding international science and technology cooperation in Cislunar space; extending space situational awareness capabilities into Cislunar space; and implementing Cislunar communications and positioning, navigation, and timing capabilities with scalable and interoperable approaches.  

These actions build on the Biden-Harris Administration’s leadership on the responsible use of space to advance scientific discovery and exploration, develop technologies for the benefit of all, build a vibrant commercial space sector, and more. 

The Policy on Standardization of Lunar Reference Systems is available here.

The National Cislunar Science and Technology Action Plan is available here.

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