The Cyprus Space Exploration Organisation (CSEO) has formed a strategic partnership with the Moon Village Association.
According to a press release by the MVA, the two parties have formed a strategic partnership and signed an MoU. With this MoU, the two entities aspire to strengthen their bond and their cooperation in the space sector.
“This agreement between the MVA and the CSEO will lead to the enhancement and progress of their common goals regarding the development of the Moon Village and promote the field of space exploration as well as developing numerous space initiatives,” it said.
It is added that this partnership is very exciting for both organizations, as this agreement involves a cooperation in technological research and development, science, education, innovation and entrepreneurship, by collaborating in organising international outreach activities and competitions, as well as joining forces to facilitate various projects, missions and research.
It should be noted that by this agreement the CSEO, that already is an Institutional Member of MVA, becomes a regional coordinator of MVA in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, Cyprus and Greece as well as chair the MVA Analogue Project, with the aim to bring cooperation between the various stakeholders in the region and internationally.
Furthermore, the CSEO has allocated resources, partially as contribution in kind, for supporting the management of the MVA from Cyprus, with the provision of an Administrative Support Officer, supporting the achievement of the goals of the MVA.
In a statement to CNA from the US, President of the CSEO George Danos said that “it is an honour that the MVA has entrusted in CSEO a strategic role in the implementation of the Moon Village vision”.
He added that “I am also personally honored that I have been asked to represent the MVA as Chair of the Moon Analogue Workgroup and Consortium at the International Astronautical Congress in Washington DC, the largest and most prestigious space congress of the decade.”
The CSEO is a non-profit, non-governmental, Organisation, founded in 2012, with the goal of “Launching Cyprus into the Space Era” and building the next generation of scientists, that would see Cyprus as niche player in global space exploration initiatives.
The Moon Village Association is an international non-governmental organization (NGO) based in Vienna, founded in 2017.Its goal is the creation of a permanent global informal forum for stakeholders like governments, industry, academia and the general public interested in the development of the Moon Village.
According to its website, the MVA is the assembling of all efforts from private industry, governments and others aimed to explore and use the Moon in a sustainable manner. Therefore, it is not a literal village on the Moon, it is not an ‘International Space Station on the Moon’, and it is not a single science facility.
The MVA fosters cooperation for existing or planned Moon exploration programs, be they public or private initiatives. It comprises approximately 220 individual and 26 institutional members from more than 40 countries, representing a diverse array of technical, scientific, cultural and interdisciplinary fields.
The MVA partners with non-space organizations to promote international discussions and formulation of plans to foster the development of the Moon Village, and is creating international, national and regional networks to engage civil society around the world.
The Moon Village Association’s mission is unique, bridging together both spacefaring and non-spacefaring nations offering them the opportunity to play a role in its realization. There is no other organization on the international scene having such a mission, the press release concludes.
(Cyprus News Agency)
