Published: Nov. 17, 2022

The White House logoFrom the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy: Today, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy released the first听National Cislunar Science and Technology (S&T) Strategy听to address how U.S. S&T leadership will support responsible, peaceful, and sustainable exploration and use of Cislunar space鈥攖he large region of space in the Earth-Moon system beyond geosynchronous (GEO) orbit, including the Moon鈥攂y all space-faring nations and entities, consistent with the听U.S. Space Priorities Framework. This effort builds on the Biden-Harris Administration鈥檚 efforts to maintain a robust and responsible U.S. space enterprise and to advance U.S. leadership in space exploration, space science, and space sustainability.

The decade ahead is critically important for exploration of Cislunar space, including the Lunar surface. NASA estimates that over the next ten years, human activity in Cislunar space will be equal to or exceed all that has occurred in this region since the Space Age began in 1957. Many more countries and other actors are planning to travel to this new sphere of human activity.