If last year’s geopolitical tensions after the Russian invasion of the Ukraine didn’t already conjure up images of a renewed Cold War, developments in space surely are reminiscent of that era. The 1960’s Space Race seems to be back with a vengeance and with potentially serious consequences.
In a interview with Politico.com, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) boss Bill Nelson warned that China might establish a foothold and claim territories on the moon. In 2018, then-president Trump announced the creation of the United States Space Force as a separate branch of the armed forces. In 2022, the European Space Agency (ESA) saw its budget increase with 17%, a sign of the bold ambitions for spaceflight in Europe. Three major political powerplayers seem intend on strengthening their presence beyond our atmosphere.
Several years ago, NASA explained the relevance and possibilities of mining for resources on the moon. Geological surveys have shown that the moon contains crucial elements like water, Helium-3, Silicon and Rare earth elements (REEs). Helium-3 might prove crucial for sustainable energy production through nuclear fusion, something that became slightly more plausible after a successful experiment in the US last year. Silicon and REEs are crucial in the production of technologies like semiconductors, solar cells and batteries. Water of course is crucial for sustaining life on the moon.
As Nelson pointed out, China has a tendency to build bases and claim territories in defiance of international law, like in the South China Sea. Not that international law has much relevance for the moon, since no countries that have actually launched people into space (the US, Russia and China) have signed the UN Agreement Governing the Activities of States on the Moon. The worry is that China might establish bases on the moon under the guise of scientific research, to then claim parts of the moon as Chinese territory with a monopoly on mining resources. Given China’s near monopoly on many REEs on earth, this would strengthen global dependence on China for the production of technology.
Gateway to the moon
At the same time, China isn’t the only country that’s interested in the moon. NASA is working together with the European Space Agency (ESA) on a permanent space station to orbit the moon, aptly called Gateway. ESA’s new Ariane 6 rocket is planned to bring a first payload to the moon later this year. European aeronautics powerhouse Airbus Defence & Space currently builds engine frames for the Ariane 6 rocket in Leiden in the Netherlands and works on a ‘Moon Cruiser’ at its headquarters in Ottobrunn/Taufkirchen near Munich.
Access to space is going to be a crucial part of Europe’s strategic autonomy in the near future. Access to resources on the moon, but also the possibility to launch satellites for laser communication and near earth observation, requires independent launch capabilities. After the Apollo 17 mission put the last man on the moon over 50 years ago, the Space Race seemed to have lost it’s public interest. It’s back with a vengeance however and this time it’s about much more than just the prestige of being the first. Sure, Space Holidays for billionaires might be more newsworthy, but in the coming years geopolitical tensions are likely to extend beyond our atmosphere.
