The Moon Becomes the Hottest Real Estate in the Solar System
The moon, once thought to be desolate and lifeless, has become the hottest real estate in the solar system. Countries from around the world are now vying for the opportunity to demonstrate their technological prowess and aid in humanity’s understanding of Earth’s closest celestial neighbor.
In the coming week, both Russia and India are set to land spacecraft on the lunar surface. These missions are part of a larger international effort to explore the moon, with Japan also planning to launch a small lander in order to test precise landing techniques for future missions. Private companies from Israel and Japan have attempted similar missions in the past, but without success.
China, on the other hand, has successfully landed on the moon in both 2019 and 2020 and has plans to send astronauts there by 2030. Meanwhile, NASA is working on its own lunar campaign through its Artemis program, which aims to build infrastructure on and around the moon for long-term exploration.
The ultimate goal for these countries is to reach the south pole of the moon, where ice is believed to exist in permanently shadowed craters. Accessing this ice is crucial for sustaining future human settlements on the moon, as it can provide both water and rocket fuel.
Matthew Daniels, assistant director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, has stated that there could be as many as 150 missions to the moon within the next decade. This surge in interest and activity demonstrates the global significance of the moon as a destination for scientific research and exploration.
Russia’s upcoming landing, called Luna-25, marks its first attempt to land on the moon in 47 years. It is a way for the country to assert its position in the global space race and prove that it is still a major player in space exploration. India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission is also a chance for the country to redeem itself after a failed moon landing attempt in 2019.
China, however, remains the biggest rival to the United States in space exploration. In recent years, China has successfully landed a spacecraft on the far side of the moon and returned lunar samples to Earth. They have also assembled a space station in low Earth orbit and landed a rover on Mars.
NASA, in partnership with private companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin, is ramping up its efforts to return to the moon. The agency has awarded billions of dollars in contracts to develop spacecraft capable of landing astronauts on the moon. NASA is also working on building a space station called Gateway, which will serve as a staging point for lunar missions.
The focus on the moon is a significant shift for NASA, which has had changing priorities and directions with each presidential administration. The Artemis program, which aims to send the first woman and person of color to the moon, has received bipartisan support in Congress.
One driving factor behind the renewed interest in the moon is the United States’ competition with China in space exploration. Both the Trump and Biden administrations have emphasized the importance of staying ahead of China’s lunar ambitions. Concerns have been raised about China’s behavior on the moon, particularly regarding resource extraction.
To encourage transparency and establish rules for the peaceful use of space, NASA and the State Department have created the Artemis Accords. So far, nearly 30 countries have signed the accords, but notable absentees include Russia and China. This raises questions about how these countries might behave on the moon and how global cooperation will be maintained.
As interest in lunar exploration continues to grow, it is clear that the moon has become a critical destination and a national imperative for many countries. The moon race of the 21st century may be different in scale and purpose from the Cold War competition between the United States and the Soviet Union, but it is no less significant in fostering scientific advancement and international collaboration.