3.5 Raising public interest in the Moon using ISS

In promoting lunar exploration for humankind, the most important first step is to raise public interest to motivate people about going to the Moon. The ISS -- with its international nature, long-term human presence, and its visibility in the sky -- can be a great vehicle for reaching out to the public worldwide.

By taking advantage of the international nature of the ISS, we can gain public appeal toward worldwide unity for lunar exploration. Occupied by humans, the ISS can help illustrate the difference between a habitat on Earth's orbit and a habitat on the Moon. This can raise people's interest in one day seeing humans living on the Moon. Finally, the visibility of the ISS in the sky can make people wish for human presence in an even more visible object in the sky, the Moon.

This section presents new ideas for ISS-related outreach activities for raising people's curiosity about the Moon. Space agencies should make a greater use of the ISS as an outreach tool to get the public interested about moving from the space station to the Moon. We urge a full use of multiple media, especially mobile phones, internet, and television.

3.5.1 Appeal for international cooperation in lunar exploration

The ISS-lunar program can give the whole world a priceless chance to write a worldwide standard for interdisciplinary education and link people from different countries together. Moreover, since the ISS adventure began as a shared experience, its continuation towards a Moon stage would keep all the participants together in this common exploration, with positive consequences in terms of economic and political cooperation. The delivery of common content to the global community, easily feasible in the information age, would have a great influence to unify the attitude of everybody, no matter which country he/she lives in, towards space, space science, space projects. For instance a common worldwide standard educational program in astronomy could specify a universal level of knowledge, and allow any culture to contribute to the worldwide knowledge with its own astronomical traditions and histories. With the importance media have today, it is vital to use them to organize worldwide events to make space closer to everyday life.

3.5.2 Linking ISS to Moon

Using the ISS capabilities in a lunar framework can spread the concept of a growing space programme, in which the ISS plays an important role in going to the Moon as the next step. Implementing a lunar-directed phase in the life of ISS could give the opportunity to promote it as an exciting adventure for humanity. Linking the ISS lifetime with future lunar exploration can help people see the big picture behind different space projects, and to consider the whole international space programme as a unique human mission.

Currently the only permanent "base" in outer space, the ISS can play an excellent role in illustrating to the public why we want a base on the Moon next. The ISS crew can communicate with the public on the ground to help illustrate the difference between a habitat on Earth's orbit and a habitat on the Moon. This could get people curious about soon seeing humans living on the Moon.

3.5.3 Reaching the public through ISS

Today the ISS may be the most powerful tool for reaching out to the public because people can relate to the astronauts permanently onboard and also find it in the sky. People learn the best and enjoy the most when they can relate to personal experiences, in this case, of astronauts. Unlike in short missions, the ISS planning should give its crew more time to serve the greater public through outreach activities. Also, being able to find the ISS in the sky and realising that fellow citizens of Earth are living there can inspire everybody significantly.

To reach the greatest number of people worldwide, the ISS program should take advantage of the most widely available media, especially mobile phones, internet, and television. Communication with the public becomes most effective when it is real-time, audio-visual, dynamic, and thrilling.

3.5.3.1 Bringing ISS to mobile phones

With the growing popularity of mobile phones among various populations, the ISS program should take advantage of this popularity. People will pay much more attention to the ISS if there is a free service that alerts the users when the ISS is about to pass overhead. The mobile display can inform the user of which direction to look for the ISS.

As the user looks at the ISS flying overhead in awe, they should have an option to tune in to the sound inside the ISS. Such a real-time and audio-visual experience could be very interesting and inspiring. By starting a popular trend of connecting mobile phones to the ISS, the public will become interested in the potential of such connections with a future lunar base.

3.5.3.2 ISS website with webcast

With the growing availability of internet worldwide, the ISS program should start an international website. Currently each participating space agencies has its own ISS site, but a unified website (with links to various national sites) could symbolise a truly international program. Since the ISS is a publicly funded project, people should have the opportunity to see anytime what is going on in the ISS through a continuous webcast.

3.5.3.3 Reaching the public through Space-TV

Television is the most important media for reaching societies and if space can maintain contact all time with people, support and funding for lunar exploration could be easily reached.

A 24-hour channel dedicated to space should be created, that could have programs such as space and scientific news, movies, quiz programs like "Space Jeopardy", space talk shows and programs dedicated to children. Space TV should emphasize further lunar exploration with international cooperation, feature open-minded thinking and motivate people from any cultural and professional background to see a link between them and space activities and stimulate them to contribute to worldwide benefits.

Additionally, we should have TV-series related to or inside the ISS that are transmitted in regular public and private channels all over the world. Future lunar exploration will benefit from these TV-series. A Reality TV Show could be a good way to show everyone, that humans are not bound to earth anymore. Issues brought up by these series should be discussed by adults and youth on a daily bases.

3.5.3.4 Interacting with ISS

The best way to communicate these ideas to the public may be through interaction with astronauts on the ISS. Any kind of communication with astronauts is always inspiring. Being able to interview astronauts during their mission gives the interviewer an immediate feedback and makes the astronauts closer to people on the ground. Classrooms, families, and individuals can use low-budget radio receivers to listen to the ISS communications.

The visibility of the ISS in the sky can make people wish for human presence in an even more visible object in the sky, the Moon.