Artemis Missions: Unpacking Lunar Extraction, Geopolitical Rivalry, and Cosmic Knowledge Gaps in 21st-Century Space Race
Original framing: “5 Mysteries That the Artemis Missions to the Moon Could Finally Solve” — Wired
The article references scientific goals of the Artemis missions but frames them as secondary to geopolitical and economic interests. It critiques the selective emphasis on scientific discovery while downplaying the broader implications of lunar resource extraction and militarization.
The Artemis missions are not just about scientific discovery but are deeply entangled with geopolitical competition, economic extraction, and the replication of terrestrial power structures in space.
By examining these missions through historical, cross-cultural, and ethical lenses, we uncover how the space race risks becoming a new frontier for inequality and ecological harm. Integrating Indigenous and marginalized perspectives, alongside scientific rigor and artistic imagination, can help reorient space exploration toward a more just and sustainable future. The trickster dimension reveals the irony of framing space as a 'neutral' domain while it is shaped by the same forces of domination that have defined Earth’s history.