Returning to the Moon can benefit commercial, military and political sectors – a space policy expert explains

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The Artemis program marks the first time since the Apollo program that an effort to send humans to the Moon has been supported by two successive U.S. presidents.

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The Conversation

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https://theconversation.com/returning-to-the-moon-can-benefit-commercial-military-and-political-sectors-a-space-policy-expert-explains-209300

Retrieved on:

Tuesday, July 18, 2023

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Geotags:

CANADA, PAKISTAN, NIGERIA, INDIA, CHINA, ITALY, UNITED STATES, APOLLO, RWANDA, RUSSIA, EUROPE, JAPAN, FRANCE

Summary

Key Points:

The Artemis program marks the first time since the Apollo program that an effort to send humans to the Moon has been supported by two successive U.S. presidents.
As a scholar of international affairs who studies space, I’m interested in understanding what allowed the Artemis program to survive this political transition where others failed.
It also offers practical benefits for the commercial sector and the military and an opportunity to reinforce U.S. global leadership.

Commercial interest in the Moon

For now, efforts to return to the Moon are largely funded by government space agencies, like NASA or the European Space Agency.
However, many experts talk about the growth of a “cislunar economy,” where companies make money through their activities in and around the Moon.
But in the meantime, government space programs can leverage commercial innovation to cut costs, spur innovation and accelerate their programs.
In the meantime, commercial entities are already attempting to land on the Moon.

Military interest in the Moon

Oracle will monitor the space between the Earth and the Moon.
It could use this expertise to support safety and security as commercial and civil governmental activity near the Moon increases.
Some individuals in the space sector go further and suggest that the military should watch for weapons hidden in deep space or on the far side of the moon.
While leveraging U.S. military expertise in space makes sense, there are reasons not to take developments in this area too far.

Geopolitical concerns

Some have suggested that the United States is now in a new space race, this time with China.
Just as the United States is leveraging commercial developments, the U.S. is working with international partners, as well.
The United States is also seeking international support for the Artemis Accords, a set of principles for responsible lunar exploration and development.
India’s signing of the accords in June 2023 was seen as a sign of strengthening ties between the U.S. and India.
Ever since humans last left the Moon in 1972, many have dreamed about the days when people would return.