Dear Madam/Sir,

We would like to thank you for the participation to the International Conference “Moon Base: a Challenge for Humanity” - Venice Workshop: Science, Technology, Systems & Economics: Outlook, Assessment, Scenarios, held on May 26th – 27th 2005 at the International Academy of Environmental Sciences, in S. Elena, Venice (Italy).

We are glad to communicate that, in our opinion, the workshop reached the aims we pointed at: we have had the chance to evaluate the relevance and the impacts concerning the project of a permanently manned Moon Base, and also we had the opportunity to discuss on it at several levels: scientific, industrial, institutional. At this purpose, I would remember what Counsellor Dionisi said in the closure of the round table: we fixed ourselves some objectives and, thanks to the contribution of all, we reached them. 

I would like to express a particular thank to Mr. Dordain, who wished to join to the discussion even with some organisation diseases; the same thanks I would extend to our colleagues, both from US and from Russia, for their contribution and their availability to build up a common project. 

Now it is time to start the preparation for the latter part of the Conference: it is our intention to arrive at Washington, DC, with all the needed elements in order to define a common vision and, therefore, to provide the elements to the governments and parliaments, both US and Italian, needed to start the Moon Base Programme, on the basis of a bilateral treaty open to the other nations, particularly the ones of the ISS community. This will imply the investigation of further topics, like the legal one, as clearly suggested by Amb. Cooper. 

The Organisation Committee, which met in enlarged session the 28th of May, decided as first step to produce a joint document to summarize Venice Workshop results to be presented to proper institutional counterparts. In the meanwhile of this work of creating a political sensibility, it has been agreed to follow on with the set-up of Working Groups to deeper analyse the most critical aspects for a Moon Base implementation; the Working Groups will present in Washington, DC Workshop the results achieved. The Working Groups identified are:

• Moon Base Utilization (including Energy production)

• Space Transportation Systems

• Human Factors

• Technologies and Logistics

• Legal issues

There is not so much time to prepare all we need to make the Washington, DC Workshop a crucial event. However, the occasion we have is one and only: we shall provide to pursue it with the right engagement. On this matter I have the pleasure to give many thanks to everybody and especially I would like to express our personal appreciation for the contribution and the help of Bill Readdy in building up a trustful proposal for the Moon Base Programme and in focusing on the related throughputs for the future.

Once again thank to everybody and hope to see You in Washington, DC next October.

Rome, 6th june 2005

Conference Chair

Walter Pecorella