Lunar Science has become a global endeavor. Addressing the many aspects of lunar research requires international collaboration to provide, among other resources, interdisciplinary scientific expertise and unique mission data. The NASA Lunar Science Institute is developing a partnership program with other international science organizations to provide collaborative opportunities for its researchers within the global science community on a no exchange of funds basis. Non-U.S. lunar science organizations can propose to become either Associate or Affiliate Members of the NLSI. Associate Membership entails a formal agreement between NASA and the foreign government. International organizations that do not elect to pursue formal government-to-government agreements would be considered Affiliate Members.

International partner membership requires long-term commitment from both the partner and the NLSI, together with tangible and specific plans for scientific interaction that will produce results of mutual benefit to both the NLSI and the international partner. Although the focus of this program is research in lunar science, it also includes collaborative activities that address any of the objectives defined in the NLSI Mission Statement, particularly space flight mission support and training of the next generation of lunar scientists. It is preferred that organizations proposing partnership represent a broad range of academic or research groups, able to represent the lunar science activity within a country.

International partners are invited to participate in all aspects of the Institute's activities and programs, on a basis of no exchange of funds. Through these activities, NLSI researchers and international partners participate in sharing ideas, information, and data arising from their respective research efforts, and contribute to the training of young scientists.

The conditions and expectations described above apply to both Affiliate and Associate Membership. However, due to the government-to-government nature of Associate Membership, such agreements will be required to demonstrate a higher level of specificity and productivity in the planned collaborations, the sources of support for those activities, as well as the expected benefit to both the NLSI and the international partner.