CounterPunch Exclusives

CounterPunch Exclusives

Lunar Exploitation and Colonial Escapism: The Artemis II Mission

Photograph Source: NASA – Public Domain

The Earth is in a fine mess, but human beings sealed in laboratories full of energy and vigour, attached to screens, and running tests about conditions in space, have another reason to cheer.  Between April 1 and April 11, the Artemis II undertook a flyby of the Moon and returned safely.  News bulletins, life stream feeds and podcasts afforded it saturating room and coverage.  This was the first Moon mission with a crew in over five decades.  Cue, then, for the grand claims, the exaggerated hopes, the silliness of it all.

Absurdly, the effort is being heralded as a collective push by humanity despite its distinct NASA credentials, yet another instance of coarse patriotism yoking itself to scientific endeavour.  This is an American gig, and it will be assessed along with every other expensively patriotic mission launched by any number of States believing that the dark side of the moon is the next big thing in competition and exploitation.  President Donald Trump’s Executive Order of December 2025 promises “American space superiority”, with the Artemis Program intended to return “Americans to the Moon by 2028”, “assert American leadership in space, lay the foundations for lunar development, prepare for the journey to Mars, and inspire the next generation of American explorers”.

It is also worth considering the statement by NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman made in March: “NASA is committed to achieving the near-impossible once again, to return to the Moon before the end of President Trump’s term, build a Moon base, establish an enduring presence, and do the other things needed to ensure American leadership.”  Nothing about humanity here so much as a bald MAGA admission that, “The clock is running in this great-power competition, and success and failure will be measured in months, not years.”

Just to complete the trio of examples, Sean Duffy, when he was acting NASA Administrator, did........

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