National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA

The 21st century has ushered in a new era of space exploration. The firmament is no longer limited to space superpowers. As private companies and emerging state actors enter the cosmic stage, international cooperation, resource ownership, and space security are increasingly urgent issues. The NASA Committee places delegates at the center of these critical issues to explore their intersection with space exploration. Delegates will address critical challenges such as extraterrestrial resource extraction governance, satellite deployment protocols and orbital debris management. They will also consider how space-based technologies can support environmental protection on Earth.

Topic A: Artemis Program and Sustainable Lunar Presence
As long as humans have eyed the final frontier, space agencies have aimed to build permanent settlements on the Moon. Spearheaded by NASA, the Artemis program aims to return astronauts to the moon and build long-term infrastructure for humans. However, building a permanent human presence on the Moon introduces many open questions and challenges. Who governs lunar settlements? How do we prevent militarization of the Moon? What roles do private companies play in shaping this extraterrestrial future? Delegates will navigate complex questions of resource ownership, astronaut safety, and international collaboration to balance scientific exploration with political realities and security concerns.

Topic B: Planetary Defense and Near-Earth Object Mitigation
The avenues of space exploration and defense have changed since the success of the DART mission in 2022, which altered the orbit of an asteroid. A full planetary defense infrastructure should now be implemented for the solvency of new complex threats to our planet – and is already in development, as evidenced by the upcoming NEO Surveyor mission (set for launch in 2027), which will dramatically increase the discovery rate of hazardous asteroids. With our planet now threatened by the objects outside of our planet, rogue attacks from often hidden sources can be hard to detect and react to – with blame for these attacks often being impossible to place. This topic will give delegates the opportunity to consider how NASA should coordinate global early warning systems, develop mitigation strategies, and navigate the politics of deciding which nations are responsible for action.

This committee invites delegates to help define a shared and responsible future for human activity beyond Earth’s atmosphere. From Artemis to asteroid mining, this is a chance to shape the next chapter of human exploration.

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