The success of the Artemis II mission, which aims to carry four\nastronauts around the Moon and back to Earth in April 2scale, has\nreignited the United States\u2019 ambition to establish a permanent lunar\nbase. However, behind this achievement, several scientists argue that\ngeopolitical competition with China is the primary driver of NASA\u2019s\nlatest lunar exploration programme.<\/p>\n
Launched in 2017, the Artemis programme targets the construction of a\npermanent lunar base before China can realise its similar plans. This\nmove follows Beijing\u2019s declaration of its ambition to build a scientific\nresearch station on the Moon and its acceleration of both robotic and\ncrewed lunar exploration programmes over the last two decades.<\/p>\n
Priyanka Dhopade, a researcher in sustainable space engineering from\nthe University of Auckland, stated that the link between space\nexploration and geopolitics is not a new phenomenon. \u201cSpace and\ngeopolitics have always gone hand in hand. The difference now is a\nstronger drive to build a long-term human presence on the Moon, aided by\ncompanies such as SpaceX and Blue Origin,\u201d Dhopade noted, as quoted by\nScience Focus.<\/p>\n
According to Dhopade, the scientific justification for building a\nmanned base on the Moon is not as compelling as robotic exploration or\nthe development of international space stations like the Lunar Gateway.\n\u201cOn the contrary, we are seeing budget cuts for US science missions and\nthe effective cancellation of the Gateway programme. Therefore,\ngeopolitics and economics appear to be driving the agenda more than\nscientific curiosity,\u201d she explained.<\/p>\n
A similar view was expressed by Oxford University astrophysicist\nBecky Smethurst, who assessed that the primary motivation for the\nArtemis programme is political and economic interest rather than\nscience. \u201cThe motivation for this mission is not science. From the\nbeginning, the motivation has been political and economic. So, we are\nre-entering a space race; this time, the United States wants to defeat\nChina in placing humans on the Moon,\u201d Smethurst stated.<\/p>\n
Debates regarding lunar exploration are intensifying due to the\npresence of high-value resources on Earth\u2019s natural satellite. In\naddition to water ice, which is essential for supporting life and fuel\nproduction, the Moon is believed to contain rare earth elements and\nhelium-3, which could serve as potential future energy sources.<\/p>\n
Amidst rising global competition, the United States leads more than\n60 nations in signing the Artemis Accords, an agreement governing the\npeaceful use of the Moon. However, the accords also permit resource\nextraction and the establishment of safety zones in specific activity\nareas. This policy has sparked concerns that it could pave the way for\nnations or private companies to control lunar territories and\nresources.<\/p>\n
\u201cNothing can stop NASA, the China National Space Administration, or\neven commercial companies from landing at a location on the Moon,\nclaiming all the resources they can mine, and then profiting from them,\u201d\nsaid Smethurst.<\/p>\n
Beyond resources, the Moon holds strategic value. It could serve as\nan ideal transit point for deeper space exploration, including missions\nto Mars, and can be used to observe Earth. The far side of the Moon even\nholds potential as a site for technological development away from direct\nsurveillance. The current economic value of the Moon remains difficult\nto calculate due to limited information regarding its resources and\nstrategic potential. Consequently, the race to the Moon is essentially\nan effort to secure claims over whatever is eventually proven to be\nvaluable. \u201cThe real question is: who will benefit from all of this?\u201d\nconcluded Dhopade.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/not-science-the-real-reason-america-is-returning-to-the-moon-revealed-1780884751", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }