United NationsOffice for Outer Space Affairs

Available Information

• Application Form (Deadline: 22 November 2024)

Introduction

The Moon is a primary focus for space activities around the world in the coming decades, including orbiters, landers, rovers, human activities, science, and both short- and long-duration missions evolving into a sustainable ecosystem. These activities are driving a need for infrastructure to provide consistent, precise, real-time lunar Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) services. Currently there are multiple development efforts underway to satisfy this need, with systems operational as early as this decade. As with the existing Earth-based Global Navigation Satellite Systems, such infrastructure will need to be mutually compatible, interoperable, and available to maximize utility for lunar space users.

At the 5th Interoperability Plenary meeting (IOP-5) held 20-22 June 2023, the IOP resolved that the Interagency Operations Advisory Group (IOAG) "organize a multilateral workshop with the International Committee on GNSS (ICG) to provide an international coordination venue for GNSS providers and lunar communications and navigation providers." In response, the 17th meeting of the ICG recommended the organization of a joint ICG-IOAG multilateral cislunar PNT workshop to be held in the late 2024/early 2025 timeframe, with specific objectives to be accomplished. The ICG further highlighted the importance of collaboration with other international stakeholders to strengthen the coordination and standardization of lunar PNT systems.

This inaugural Joint ICG-IOAG Multilateral Cislunar PNT Workshop seeks to provide an open international coordination forum to foster interoperable, compatible, and available lunar PNT systems of the future. Its focus is on the lunar PNT systems and services planned and under development, spectrum compatibility, lunar reference systems and time systems, aspects and models for international governance, lessons learned from the Earth-based GNSS community, and driving needs from the user segment.

Objectives

The goal of the workshop is to provide an open international coordination forum for lunar PNT service providers, including GNSS providers, to foster interoperable, compatible, and available lunar PNT systems of the future.

The objectives are to:

1. Outline the scope, depth, use cases, and status of lunar PNT systems being developed.
2. Identify lessons learned from the GNSS community that are applicable to lunar PNT service providers and users.
3. Foster advancement in interoperability, compatibility, and availability between lunar PNT systems, including GNSS.
4. Propose recommendations that may be taken up by the lunar PNT community.

Expected Participants

The workshop is for everyone interested in the interoperability, compatibility, and availability of lunar PNT systems and services.

The workshop welcomes experts and policymakers from regional, national and local institutions, private organizations, academic institutions, non-governmental organizations, and international organizations from both developed and developing countries.

Especially encouraged to attend are representatives from lunar PNT system developers and service providers, including GNSS providers; experts in lunar PNT spectrum, lunar reference systems, and timing; experts in PNT service compatibility, interoperability, and governance; potential lunar PNT technology and equipment developers; and potential users of lunar PNT systems and services.

For the purposes of this workshop, cislunar PNT providers encompass any system providing a radio frequency-based signal and relevant data necessary for a recipient to perform position, velocity, and/or time estimation. These cislunar PNT service providers include broadcast transmissions from space-based (orbiting) vehicles, direct point-to-point transmission in lunar proximity, 3GPP systems, surface pseudolites, surface transmitters of RF "beacons", WiFi, augmentations, and other complementary systems.

Tentative Schedule of Work

Organizing Committee

Working Methods

The workshop will be held primarily in-person, up to the maximum capacity available. Online participation will be via webinar with moderated questions.

Applicants interested to attend in person will be selected, up to the maximum capacity of the room, based on organization, role, and relevant professional functions and duties as indicated in the registration form. Selected attendees will be notified via email, while applicants who have not been selected will be emailed the connection link to view the workshop online.

Speakers at this workshop are by invitation only.

All materials presented will be available on the UNOOSA website after the workshop.

Working Language

The working language of the workshop is English.

Registration Fee

There are no registration fees.

Sponsorship

No sponsorship is available for this workshop. All in-person attendees are expected to fully fund their own participation.

Health Insurance

Life/major health insurance for each of the selected participants is mandatory and the responsibility of the applicant or their institution or Government. The co-organizers will not assume any responsibility for life and major health insurance, nor for expenses related to medical treatment or accidents.