Lunar Development Conference 2026
Building our Future on the Moon
July 17–18, 2026 | Virtual
Registration (or Moon Society membership) is required to watch the event — everyone registered receives the Zoom link by email.
Each Day's Schedule
| Time Zone | Begins | Ends |
|---|---|---|
| US Eastern (EDT) | 10:00 AM | 7:50 PM |
| UTC | 2:00 PM | 11:50 PM |
| CEST (Stockholm) | 4:00 PM | 1:50 AM |
Conference Program
All times US Eastern (EDT) — see the conversions above. Talks run 30 minutes with short transitions between.
Day 1 — July 17
- 10:00–10:30 AM
Veronica Chiaravalli · The Moon Society / Emerging Technologies Sweden
Engaging the Frontier: A Framework for Multi-Agent Social Robotics and Adaptive HRI in Off-World Settlements and Mega-Habitats
- 10:40–11:10 AM
Dr. Anna Xygkou-Tsiamoulou & Max Medina · University of Kent, UK / LAVA Architects
Human-Centred by Design: Embedding Human Factors and Ergonomics into Lunar Habitat Architecture
- 11:20–11:50 AM
Doug Plata · The Space Development Network
The Case for the Moon
- 12:00–12:30 PM
Alastair Storm Browne · Storm Browne Enterprises LLC
From Lunar Bases to Lunar Cities — The Evolution of Settling the Moon
- 12:40–1:10 PM
Colin Lennox · EcoIslands LLC
Self-Organizing Wetland Bioreactors (SOWBs) Application to Mining Reclamation: Direct and Indirect Bioremediation as a Design Tool for Mine Influenced Water (MIW) Benefaction
- 1:20–1:50 PM
David Schrunk · Science of Laws Institute
Science Directed Lawmaking for Lunar Governance
- 2:00–2:30 PM
James R. Wertz et al. · Microcosm / USC
Social Lunar Settlements: Having Fun, Making Lots of Money, and Living Longer (?) on the Moon
- 2:40–3:10 PM
Fernando Gomez & Victor Tenorio · MineSense Technologies / University of Arizona
Sensing Intelligence for Lunar Mining: Real-Time Material Characterization in Autonomous Excavation and Conveyor Systems at the South Pole
- 3:20–3:50 PM
Victor Tenorio & Marc dos Santos · University of Arizona
Production Strategy for Icy Regolith Resource Utilization Using a Modular Conveyor Network in the Lunar South Pole Region
- 4:00–4:30 PM
Nasir Rizwan · SAFAR — South Asian Facility for Analog Research
High-Altitude Analog Research for Lunar Surface Preparation: Site Selection, EVA Protocol Validation, Human Performance, and Astrobiology Reconnaissance at 4,700 m ASL
- 4:40–5:10 PM
Nevin Shah · The Spring Institute for Forests on the Moon
From Regolith to Living Soil: Building the Future Lunar Workforce through the Spring Institute's Global Citizen Science Pipeline
- 5:20–5:50 PM
James Plaxco · Chicago Society for Space Studies
The Top Ten Challenges to the Economic Development of the Moon
- 6:00–6:30 PM
Nadav Shaltiel · Nova School of Law — The Space Law Research Centre (SPARC)
Transplanting Jurisprudence, Not Law: Why Space Governance Requires a Foundational Rethinking of Legal Theory
- 6:40–7:10 PM
Wanjiku Chebet Kanjumba · Vicillion
From Orbit to Outpost: Human-AI Coordination for Lunar South Pole Logistics
- 7:20–7:50 PM
Abigail Watson · Orbital Health Systems, Inc.
Moonbase 2026: Building a Lunar Colony Simulator with Healthcare-Grade Infrastructure
Day 2 — July 18
- 10:00–10:30 AM
James Burk · The Mars Society
From Advocacy to Action: The Moon Society's Role in the NASA Moon Base
- 10:40–11:10 AM
Alan Meyer · Rustic Anvil Forge LLC
Project Shackleton
- 11:20–11:50 AM
Lars R. "Jones" Vadjina · Future Dreams GmbH
The Invisible Infrastructure: Why AI May Become the Operating System of Lunar Civilization
- 12:00–12:30 PM
Ethan Williams & Victor Tenorio · University of Arizona
San Xavier Decline as an Analog Lava Tube for Testing Autonomous Lunar Mining Systems and Infrastructure
- 12:40–1:10 PM
Matthias Beach
Diversification of Lunar Surface Space Suits
- 1:20–1:50 PM
Nicolas Nelson · Luna City Press
Good Fences Make Good Neighbors
- 2:00–2:30 PM
Holger Isenberg · Areo Info LLC
Returning Galileo to His Original Location on the Moon
- 2:40–3:10 PM
Dr. Silvia Schmalzl · Dr. Schmalzl Consulting
The Living Wall: Pioneer Organisms as Biological Infrastructure in Lunar Lava Tube Habitats
- 3:20–3:50 PM
Quinn Morley · Unleashed Robotics
Tetherless Drilling Robots (Borebots) for Polar Lunar Prospecting
- 4:00–4:30 PM
Hal Fulton · Open Space Foundation
Beyond Earth: Toward a Pattern Language for Lunar Settlements
- 4:40–5:10 PM
Francesca Mison · Moliri Space Energy
Moliri's Case for In-Situ Construction and Repair Capability in the Lunar Economy
- 5:20–5:50 PM
Daniel Tompkins · MoonDrops
MoonDrops, A Whole Moon Approach
- 6:00–6:30 PM
Nona Zakoyan & Piercarlo Galeazzo · Thales Alenia Space
Argonaut: Advancing Sustainable Lunar Exploration
- 6:40–7:10 PM
Michael Helton · Helton Associates
Asteroid Impact Protection — Long Term Solution
- 7:20–7:50 PM
Madhu Thangavelu · USC Viterbi School of Engineering / International Space University
Commercial CisLunar Orbital Amateur Astronaut Space Tourism
Full abstracts are in the Book of Abstracts (PDF).
Mission Briefing
Watch our conference overview and see what LDC 2026 is all about.
Check our YouTube channel to see our past conferences: youtube.com/themoonsociety
You must register — or join The Moon Society — to watch the event. It's free for speakers and members, and everyone will be emailed the Zoom link to join the conference.
The Moon Society
For the Settlement of the Moon
The Moon Society is a non-profit educational and scientific organization dedicated to the permanent settlement of the Moon. We advocate for a robust lunar economy and the use of lunar resources to support humanity's future in space.
The Lunar Development Conference is The Moon Society's annual conference series bringing together the global community working toward a permanent human presence on the Moon. LDC 2026 focuses on the surface and subsurface of the Moon, from geology and resource extraction to habitat design and human factors.
Topics on the Program
Track Alpha: Surface Infrastructure & ISRU
Focusing on In-Situ Resource Utilization, solar power grids, autonomous regolith construction, and landing pad stabilization.
Track Beta: Subsurface Settlement
Research into the structural integrity of lunar lava tubes, radiation shielding, Mare pit exploration, and thermal management for long-term subsurface bases.
Lunar Geology
Regolith characterization, mineralogy, volcanic history
ISRU
Resource extraction, water ice, oxygen production
Habitat Design
Surface structures, subsurface lava tubes, construction methods
Robotics & Automation
Autonomous construction, exploration systems, teleoperation
Human Factors
Space psychology, long-duration mission research, crew health
Power Systems
Energy generation, storage, and distribution on the lunar surface
Space Medicine
Physiological adaptation, radiation protection, medical support
Policy & Economics
Lunar governance, property rights, commercial development pathways
And everything else Moon-related — if it touches the lunar surface or subsurface, you'll find it in the Book of Abstracts.
Book of Abstracts
The complete collection of abstracts for LDC 2026 — every talk on the program, with full author bios and affiliations, compiled and curated by Veronica Chiaravalli.
Download Abstracts (PDF)PDF · ~10 MB
Pioneering the Future
Innovation & Global Outreach
As NASA and global partners prepare for a permanent return to the Moon, a critical gap remains in the professional expertise required for long-term habitation. The Moon Society is building new professional education pathways — led by Veronica Chiaravalli (VP, Partner, and Head of Outreach) — to develop the leadership, innovation, and operational readiness the next frontier demands.
Human-Robot Teaming
A modern, proprietary approach to synchronizing personnel with robotic assets through unique, integrated workflows.
Total Ecosystem Design
Original designs covering every necessity for survival and growth, including food systems, work structures, and survival protocols.
Leading in ICE Environments
Specialized leadership and innovation frameworks for remote teams operating in high-stakes environments — from the Arctic to deep space.
The Human Dimension
Architecting for mental well-being and long-term habitation through specialized entertainment and community structures.
The "Pioneering the Moon" Masterclass Series
A professional education initiative developed with Emerging Technologies Sweden, bridging the gap between current space-industry capabilities and the skills needed for the Artemis generation:
The Society Edition
A condensed, high-impact version available exclusively to Moon Society members to build global lunar literacy.
The Innovation Edition
The full professional Masterclass hosted at Emerging Technologies Sweden, incorporating the MultiplanetaryX Innovation Hub for advanced training in lunar settlement design.
Speaker Benefits
- Free registration for all accepted speakers and members
- Present to a global audience of space professionals
- Network with leading lunar experts
- Your presentation will be recorded and shared after the conference
- Featured in the official conference program
Conference Co-Chairs
Lead Conference Organizers
Veronica Chiaravalli
Vice President, The Moon Society · Founder & CEO, Emerging Technologies Sweden
A Civilizational Systems Pioneer whose work bridges human factors, AI strategy, and human–robot interaction for extreme environments, Veronica is a Certified Virtual Analog Astronaut (Habitat Marte) and contributing editor for Peter Kokh's A Pioneer's Guide to Living on Mars. She returns to LDC after presenting "MultiplanetaryX: Preparing Humans and AI for Lunar Leadership and Resilience" at LDC 2025, and serves additionally as Fractional CAIO of Space Renaissance International and a Board Member of the Lifeboat Foundation.
James Burk
Board Member, The Moon Society · Executive Director, The Mars Society
A founding Vice President of The Moon Society in 2000 and current Board Member, James organized the inaugural Lunar Development Conference in 2020 — the first in this series. He also serves as Executive Director of The Mars Society, leading the MarsVR digital-twin project and the 2020 Virtual Mars Convention (10,000+ attendees, 150+ speakers). A former Microsoft engineer and Mission Commander at the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS), he anchors LDC 2026's strategic direction with over two decades of operational and technical leadership across human spaceflight advocacy.
Together, the co-chairs are guiding LDC 2026 around three priorities
- NASA Alignment: Ensuring our research supports the Return to the Moon.
- Global Outreach: Inspiring the next generation of pioneers.
- Operational Excellence: Applying proven leadership and AI frameworks to the challenges of lunar settlement, accelerating progress while ensuring diversity and broad participation in humanity's next chapter.