Examining the meaning of sustainability on the Moon

Engineering Systems Lab researchers have compiled a report on a survey of individuals with an interest in lunar and space exploration to examine the different perspectives on lunar sustainability. Their results highlight the existence of divergent perspectives on sustainability, and reflect a need for future missions to balance this difference and address concerns to cultivate long-term support for lunar exploration.

Authors: Marco A. Janssen, Kyle Fiore Law, Parvathy Prem, Stylianos Syropoulos, and Afreen Siddiqi
Citation: Space Policy, March 2026

Abstract:
Sustainability is increasingly being discussed in the context of lunar missions. We report on a survey of individuals with an interest in lunar and space exploration to examine the different perspectives on lunar sustainability. Among the 277 participants who completed the survey, we found that there are different views on how to interpret lunar (surface) sustainability. There is consensus that all 3 constituent pillars of sustainability are important, but there are differences between those who focus on financial and operational issues and those who focus on environmental and ethical issues. In our survey, those focused on the financial and operational aspects of lunar missions tended to be from the space industry and the lunar interest community, whereas academics were more focused on environmental impacts on Earth and the Moon. We also found that general definitions of sustainability and space sustainability were widely in agreement, but lunar mission-specific definitions related to the Artemis program received less support. The differences in perspectives relate back to the level of support for long-term human presence on the Moon. Overall, these results highlight the existence of divergent perspectives on sustainability within the space exploration interest community. Future missions for limited scientific exploration, as well as for long-term human operations, should account for this difference and address concerns if they seek to derive broad long-term support.