Commentary: China’s mission to the moon is rocking geopolitics

A large screen shows news footage of China 's Chang'e-6 lunar probe collecting a sample from the far side of the moon, in Beijing, China on Jun 4, 2024.

But it is more than footprints this time. Mining for lunar resources is the focus. And there are some important differences geopolitically, which has implications for Australia and other middle and smaller powers.The moon ceased to be of interest after the Apollo program ended in the 1970s, and space investment globally shifted to satellite technologies for our needs on Earth.

NASA is leaning heavily on commercial partners to develop all the necessary infrastructure and technologies for Artemis, including from other nations. Australian researchers and companies are developing communications infrastructure, remote sensing, and robotics in support of the mission. As of today, the Accords have 43 signatories, including Australia and a number of small nations that may never be part of the Artemis programme, but which seek to align themselves with this side of the competition.This new moon race may lead to military competition and potentially to conflict, given that human history is rife with competition over resources leading to war.

The European Space Agency also leads the new Zero Debris Charter in response to the hazards created by the unmanageable space traffic made up of thousands of satellites and more than a hundred million pieces of debris. Building on such measures will be crucial to ensure new activities on the moon remain sustainable and peaceful.

Source: Education Headlines (educationheadlines.net)

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