A panel of experts from University of Leicester will meet this week to discuss the future of Lunar exploration and its implications for international relations.

Months after India successfully landed a rover on its southern region, Japan has followed suit with a soft robotic landing on the nearside of the Moon

China aims to have its astronauts land on the Moon by 2030 following a string of robotic landing successes in recent years, and the United States may have astronauts return to the Moon by 2027

Japan, Europe and Canada are also working with the United States to place a space station in orbit around the Moon.

With an increase in activity anticipated on and around the Moon, experts will explore the scientific, economic, political and legal interests of these global powers and what the future of Lunar exploration might look like.

The public event’s panel will include:

• Professor Martin Barstow – Professor of Astrophysics & Space Science at University of Leicester and Director of Strategic Partnerships at Space Park Leicester.
• Dr Rossana Deplano – Associate Professor and Co-Director of the Centre for European Law and Internationalisation at University of Leicester.
• Dr Francesca Faedi – Lecturer in Business and the Space Economy at University of Leicester School of Business.
• Dr Bleddyn Bowen – Associate Professor of International Relations at University of Leicester.

Members of the public will also be able to ask the panel questions during the session.

The event will be hosted by the University’s Institute for Space and take place on Wednesday, 24 January in Bennett Lecture Theatre 2 and online from 2pm.

More information about the event can be found here.

About the University of Leicester

The University of Leicester is led by discovery and innovation – an international centre for excellence renowned for research, teaching and broadening access to higher education. It is among the Top 30 universities in the Times Higher Education (THE)’s Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 rankings, with 89% of research assessed as world-leading or internationally excellent, with wide-ranging impacts on society, health, culture, and the environment. The University is home to more than 20,000 students and approximately 4,000 staff.