Publications towards effective lunar governance.
Articles, papers and blueprints in service of effective multilateral stewardship of lunar resources.
We publish new articles and papers regularly.
Breaking Ground’s Comment on ispace Mission 1
Breaking Ground Lunar Resources Trust partners with private companies to test sustainable management policies for lunar resources. The recent ispace lunar mission marked a significant milestone in lunar exploration, with the collaboration of a private company and a space agency. ispace was awarded a contract with NASA to sell lunar regolith samples, marking the beginning of a commercial market for lunar resources. Breaking Ground aims to create partnerships between private entities to promote sustainable management policies and a sustainable lunar economy.
Safety Zones for Sustainability on the Moon: The Example of the Breaking Ground Trust
Although safety zones are not a new concept in international law, their introduction in the context of outer space is fairly recent. First presented as a concept for space activities by the Hague Working Group in 2016, lunar safety zones were formally introduced to the international community through section 11 of the Artemis Accords in 2020. Their compliance to existing international space law and the implications of such zones on the Moon have been heavily debated. Part of this uncertainty lies in the imprecise definition and the lack of clarity regarding their implementation. This article surveys legal precedents for safety zones in other domains, and explores the challenges of those precedents, and open questions surrounding implementation on the Moon. The authors offer a novel legal basis for safety zones with a basis in natural resource management, and discuss the application and implementation of this approach to safety zones focused in particular on instrumenting accountability for sustainable lunar activities. Finally, the Breaking Ground Lunar Resources Trust is presented as a real world case study.
Orbit Fab and Breaking Ground Set Space Resource Transaction Precedent with World’s First Agreement for Donation of Lunar Regolith
Today, Orbit Fab, the Gas Stations In Space™ company creating an in-space propellant supply chain, and Breaking Ground Trust, a lunar resources perpetual purpose trust, announced the signing of a letter of intent for a regolith donation. Under the terms of this agreement, Orbit Fab intends to purchase a lunar sample from a third party and donate it to Breaking Ground to hold it in trust. This collaboration allows both entities to pursue their shared interest in developing and promoting a sustainable, balanced, and lawful way to manage lunar resources.
Behind the Scenes - Building Sustainable Stewardship of Lunar Resources Through a Trust
In recent years the Moon has captured the interests of many because of the emerging potential to use its anticipated water and mineral resources. As the first steps towards extraction and utilization are being taken, the precise nature, usefulness and commercial value of lunar resources remains unknown. Given the unique legal environment in which these activities are taking place, there is an opportunity to explore new approaches to resource management, which might be different from familiar approaches taken on Earth.
Breaking Ground Signs First MOU with Intuitive Machines
Breaking Ground has signed its first Memorandum of Understanding with Intuitive Machines (IM). The MoU lays the foundations for an ongoing collaboration between the two organizations to pursue their mutual interest in understanding the operational and rights frameworks for long term sustained presence beyond Earth.
Announcing “Breaking Ground” - A Lunar Resources Trust
The Announcement of Breaking Ground, a lunar resources trust which will exist to steward and demonstrate formal and effective institutional management of lunar resources between different stakeholders.