Lunar Accidents, Incidents, and Issues Reporting System
Project Contributor: Ali Nasseri | Project Advisors: Alex Gilbert & Luis Zea Working to Ensure Safe and Sustainable Lunar Operations Through a Safety Reporting System
Open Lunar Impact
This project fosters greater information sharing and cooperation among all lunar actors, reducing risks and enabling safer operations. This system contributes to the broader goals of sustainability and shared governance by offering actionable insights that benefit the entire lunar ecosystem. By identifying hazards early, LAIIRS helps create a safer environment for exploration, while setting a standard for responsible behaviour and collaboration in space.
About the Project
As humanity returns to the Moon, the complexity and risks of lunar exploration are rapidly increasing. With over 30 missions planned by a mix of space agencies and private companies, the need for a coordinated approach to safety and sustainability on the Moon has never been more critical. The Lunar Accidents, Incidents, and Issues Reporting System (LAIIRS) aims to address this need by providing a comprehensive platform for reporting and analysing lunar mission events. By offering a centralized platform for documenting and sharing incidents, accidents, and issues, LAIIRS enables the cooperation and transparency essential for the next chapter of space exploration.
LAIIRS is an innovative safety and transparency initiative, designed as a community-led, voluntary, and non-punitive reporting system. Its objectives include:
Documenting and Sharing: Providing a centralized platform to document and share incidents, accidents, and issues.
Data Analysis: Analyzing data to identify trends, improve hazard mitigation, and inform mission planning.
Standard Development: Supporting the development of operational standards that prioritize safety and sustainability.
About the Need
Lunar exploration is entering a new phase, with more actors and activities than ever before. LAIIRS addresses several pressing needs:
Historical Precedent: Space exploration, from Apollo to today, has shown that accidents can happen, often with serious consequences. A reporting system ensures lessons are shared and risks minimized.
Shared Infrastructure: As we develop community infrastructure on the Moon, coordination and interoperability are critical for safe operations.
Diverse Stakeholders: With government agencies, private companies, and international partnerships working in the same space, a unified reporting framework fosters trust and cooperation.
About the Solution
LAIIRS is built on key principles to serve the needs of all lunar stakeholders:
Community-Led and Voluntary: Encourages participation from a diverse group of actors while ensuring inclusivity.
Confidential and Non-Punitive: Protects the anonymity of reporters to foster openness and honesty.
Actionable Insights: Provides stakeholders with valuable data to improve safety and operational planning.
The system includes:
Recording and Anonymizing: Recording and anonymizing verified reports of accidents, incidents, and issues.
Stakeholder Notification: Notifying affected parties to prevent further risks.
Trend Analysis: Analysing trends to support hazard analysis, mission planning, and the development of operational standards.
By drawing inspiration from successful models like the Federal Aviation Administration's Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS), which has significantly improved aviation safety through voluntary, confidential reporting, LAIIRS aims to bring similar benefits to lunar operations.
LAIIRS complements Open Lunar's broader initiatives, such as the Lunar Registry of Objects and Activities, by enhancing transparency and information sharing in lunar endeavours. Together, these projects establish a neutral, independent source of truth where anyone can find information on past, current, and future lunar activities and objects, promoting a clear understanding and enabling appropriate coordination to reduce risk.
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