The Moon has the unique property of naturally shielding radio waves generated by human activities on Earth and around it. This results in a wide radio silence zone on and above its Farside, called Shielded Zone on the Moon (SZM).
Therefore, the Farside becomes a region of utmost scientific interest, as it provides an environment free from the electromagnetic pollution typical on Earth. In particular, the branches of Science that would greatly benefit from operating from the Farside are: Cosmology, Astrobiology, Planetary Defense, and SETI/Technosignature.
1. COSMOLOGY – To detect the extremely feeble radiation of the hydrogen line at 1420 MHz, down-shifted to much lower frequencies, MHz or kHz, due to the 14 billion years of universe expansion. The radio silence of the Farside would ensure a significant leap forward in research.
2. ASTROBIOLOGY – To study pre-biological interstellar molecules through their roto-vibrational spectra: a fine search for weak spectral lines that can be supported by advanced radio telescopes in combination with the radio silence of the Moon Farside.
3. PLANETARY DEFENSE – From the Moon Farside, radar and optical telescopes can be used for accurate measurements, without interference, of the main parameters of NEOs (Near-Earth Objects) to increase the lead time.
4. SETI/TECHNOSIGNATURE – To search, with very low noise, for “signatures” of Alien Civilizations that would reach us extremely faint due to the vast distances between stars in the Milky Way, if not from other galaxies. The discovery of one or more Extraterrestrial Civilizations in this or other galaxies would change the course of human history.
In December 2021, the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) established a new Permanent Committee devoted to the Moon Farside Protection. This new Committee is chaired by Prof. Claudio Maccone, one of the Technical Directors of the IAA, and co-chaired by Prof. Jack Burns of the University of Colorado at Boulder (USA). The Committee has already gained the support of dozens of new members worldwide, including the USA, China, and Europe.
Furthermore, in September 2022, the first Special Session on Moon Farside Protection was held during the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Paris, organized by Prof. Claudio Maccone and Prof. Jack Burns, and it will be held again in October 2023 during the IAC in Baku.
To further raise the level of international attention and involvement on this topic, Prof. Claudio Maccone conceived the first-ever international Symposium on Moon Farside Protection, to be held in 2024 in Turin (Torino, Italy), chosen for its significant space tradition.
Recent lunar missions and, even more so, upcoming programs will bring more and more artificial systems around and on the lunar surface, occupying space and emiting radio waves at various frequencies. This will undoubtedly happen on the Nearside, but also on the Farside.
This Symposium is thus designed to sensitize and openly involve the global scientific, political, and industrial community on the need to preserve radio silence on the Farside at frequencies relevant for scientific purposes. It aims to prevent future missions from irreversibly compromising the current condition of radio quietness.
Moreover, to ensure the possibility of performing scientific activities, there is a desire to establish a portion of the Farside exclusively dedicated to science, a protected area.
As known, there are already various international regulations and resolutions aimed at protecting the SZM (ITU Radio Regulations, ITU-R REC RA.479-5, and SFCG Resolution 23-5 can be mentioned as examples).
However, it is of paramount importance to take a further step, both to extend the protected frequencies to encompass all other scientifically relevant ones (in addition to those already included) and to preserve a portion of the farside exclusively for scientific installations. Furthermore, there is a pressing need to elevate these regulations into enforceable and binding treaties for every Space Agency and private company.
All objectives can only be pursued and achieved through diplomatic efforts involving spacefaring nations (current and future) from around the world. The IAA Committee aims at initiating this process during the Symposium with the support and contribution of all scientists, international organizations, space agencies, and private companies participating.
The ultimate goal is to reach a future, hopefully soon, international agreement, ideally under the auspices of the United Nations and its relevant specialized Organizations, such as ITU and COPUOS.
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