8 Moon Farside Protection, Moon Village …
83
meetings/technosignatures2018/agenda/. Maccone was invited to make a presentation about “SETI in Europe” and he did so, adding the Moon Farside Protection,
see https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/technosignatures2018/presentation/?video=
maccone.mp4.
8.7 Past and Present Studies About the Moon Farside
Protection
There were several Studies of the value of the Moon’s far side for various science
applications, including radio astronomy. They indicate the place of the current study
in the overall “back to the Moon” activity. In particular:
(1) A useful start here is the following paper (and a corresponding ESA M4
proposal): Mimoun et al. 2011, Exp. Astr., https://doi.org/10.1007/s10686-0119252-3.
(2) The IAA Cosmic Study 1.6, entitled “Protected Antipode Circle on Lunar
Farside”, was edited by this author with the support of several technical expert
with the IAA and legal experts with the IISL (International Institute of Space
Law). This IAA Cosmic Study is currently (December 2018) in press.
8.8 Summary About This author’s Work to Legally
Protecting Radio Astronomy on the Farside and Within
the Quiet Cone in the Space Above the Farside
The goal of this paper was to make the readers sensitive to the importance of
protecting the Central Farside of the Moon from any future wild, anti-scientific
exploitation. The Farside of the Moon is a unique place for us in the whole universe:
it is close to the Earth, but protected from the radio emissions that we ourselves
are creating in an ever increasing amount, making our radio telescopes blinder and
blinder.
In particular, we gave sound scientific reasons why the PAC, Protected Antipode
Circle, should be declared an internationally protected area under the Protection of
the United Nations, or, in absence of that institution, by direct agreement among
the space-faring nations. To achieve this goal, in the mentioned IAA Cosmic Study
we analysed the given legal situation and presented a procedure for establishing the
PAC. This would encompass the declaration of the PAC as ‘international scientific
preserves’ or ‘scientific reserves’, although there is a possibility of ramification on the
level of domestic law and regulation. This effort would require a broad constituency
of nations and could be pursued based on Art. 7(3) of the Moon Agreement.
Furthermore, we showed that the existing Radio Regulations could guarantee the
necessary communication frequencies for a future base on the lunar Farside, as well
83
meetings/technosignatures2018/agenda/. Maccone was invited to make a presentation about “SETI in Europe” and he did so, adding the Moon Farside Protection,
see https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/technosignatures2018/presentation/?video=
maccone.mp4.
8.7 Past and Present Studies About the Moon Farside
Protection
There were several Studies of the value of the Moon’s far side for various science
applications, including radio astronomy. They indicate the place of the current study
in the overall “back to the Moon” activity. In particular:
(1) A useful start here is the following paper (and a corresponding ESA M4
proposal): Mimoun et al. 2011, Exp. Astr., https://doi.org/10.1007/s10686-0119252-3.
(2) The IAA Cosmic Study 1.6, entitled “Protected Antipode Circle on Lunar
Farside”, was edited by this author with the support of several technical expert
with the IAA and legal experts with the IISL (International Institute of Space
Law). This IAA Cosmic Study is currently (December 2018) in press.
8.8 Summary About This author’s Work to Legally
Protecting Radio Astronomy on the Farside and Within
the Quiet Cone in the Space Above the Farside
The goal of this paper was to make the readers sensitive to the importance of
protecting the Central Farside of the Moon from any future wild, anti-scientific
exploitation. The Farside of the Moon is a unique place for us in the whole universe:
it is close to the Earth, but protected from the radio emissions that we ourselves
are creating in an ever increasing amount, making our radio telescopes blinder and
blinder.
In particular, we gave sound scientific reasons why the PAC, Protected Antipode
Circle, should be declared an internationally protected area under the Protection of
the United Nations, or, in absence of that institution, by direct agreement among
the space-faring nations. To achieve this goal, in the mentioned IAA Cosmic Study
we analysed the given legal situation and presented a procedure for establishing the
PAC. This would encompass the declaration of the PAC as ‘international scientific
preserves’ or ‘scientific reserves’, although there is a possibility of ramification on the
level of domestic law and regulation. This effort would require a broad constituency
of nations and could be pursued based on Art. 7(3) of the Moon Agreement.
Furthermore, we showed that the existing Radio Regulations could guarantee the
necessary communication frequencies for a future base on the lunar Farside, as well