Artemis II’s Moon fly-by: How NASA’s scientific nerve centre obscures colonial legacies and extractive space governance
Original framing: “Behind the scenes with Artemis II’s scientists during the historic Moon fly-by” — Nature
A deep historical lens links Artemis II to Cold War militarisation and the legacy of extractive imperialism that has long shaped planetary exploration. The narrative draws parallels between terrestrial colonisation and the emerging lunar resource regime, showing how past power structures are reproduced in space. This historical framing reveals the continuity of domination across Earth and the Moon.
By weaving Indigenous cosmologies, historical continuities of militarised extraction, and cross‑cultural perspectives into the scientific narrative of Artemis II, the analysis reveals a layered paradox: a mission celebrated for its technical prowess simultaneously perpetuates colonial legacies.
The trickster lens exposes this inversion, while future modelling underscores the stakes of an unchecked extractivist trajectory. Integrating artistic‑spiritual values and marginalised voices into governance offers a pathway toward a lunar commons that honors both planetary and cultural ecosystems.