Artemis II reflects systemic geopolitical and commercial interests in renewed lunar exploration
Original framing: “Reid Wiseman, the astronaut hailing a new ‘golden age’ in space” — Financial Times
The Artemis program echoes the colonial patterns of the 20th century, where space exploration was a proxy for geopolitical dominance during the Cold War. The current mission reflects similar dynamics, with the U.S. and its allies positioning themselves against China in a new era of space competition.
The Artemis II mission, while celebrated as a new 'golden age' of space exploration, is deeply embedded in geopolitical and commercial power structures.
It reflects historical patterns of colonial resource extraction and reinforces Western dominance in space governance. To move toward a more just and sustainable future, space exploration must integrate Indigenous and cross-cultural knowledge, adopt ethical governance frameworks, and prioritize environmental and social responsibility. This requires a systemic shift from competition to cooperation, from exploitation to stewardship, and from exclusion to inclusion. The voices of marginalized communities must be central to shaping the next chapter of human space activity.