On December 2nd and 3rd, 2024, the eighth Global Moon Village Symposium took place in Luxembourg. The Geographical Institute was represented by Elena Marci-Boehncke and Roman Hiby from the Interdisciplinary Geoinformation Sciences. Elena Marci-Boehncke gave a presentation on “Engaging Pupils with Remote Sensing – Adapting Lunar Exploration for German Classrooms.”
The conference addressed various aspects of lunar research. In addition to major space agencies such as ESA, NASA, and JAXA, numerous start-up companies were also present to showcase their innovative concepts. A central theme was the establishment of potential lunar bases and the associated opportunities and challenges.
Other key topics included the design of lunar architecture and ensuring communication, navigation, internet, and basic supplies on the moon. Special attention was given to the role of women in space exploration. A large panel discussion covered topics such as equality, leadership roles, and stereotypes to facilitate women’s access to jobs in the space industry and reduce stigmatization in the field.
For the first time, the conference was held in Luxembourg, highlighting the Luxembourg space community. The Luxembourg Space Agency and the European Space Resources Innovation Centre (ESRIC) drew attention with numerous presentations during the “Luxembourg Space Week.” Luxembourg has been a member of ESA since 2005.