After years or relative hiatus, the 2020s and 2030s are now set to see a wave of missions to the moon with Artemis II recently splashing down.
As we’ll discuss this episode, there are some things that set these new efforts apart from those of the Cold War.
This time they don’t just want to land on it, they want to mine it.
Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/PerunAU
Reading and Sourcing (partial):
NASA Office of the Inspector General Reports featured in this epsiode
https://oig.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/IG-23-015.pdfv
NASA – Human Landing Systems
NASA – Building the Moon Base
https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/2-building-the-moon-base.pdf?emrc=69c53c728f63e
NASA – US National Space Policy
NASA Unveils Initiatives to Achieve America’s National Space Policy
NASA – Artemis Plan 2020
https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/artemis_plan-20200921.pdf
2020 reporting on the 2024 timeline
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-09-23/nasa27s-plan-to-return-to-moon-in-2024/12691698
CRS – NASA Appropriations & Authorisations At a Glance (2026)
https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R43419
Bogota Declaration
https://www.jaxa.jp/library/space_law/chapter_2/2-2-1-2_e.htmlhttps://www.jaxa.jp/library/space_law/chapter_2/2-2-1-2_e.html
ESA – European Service Module
https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/European_Service_Module_engines_powering_Artemis_II
Atlantic Council – A U.S. Space Strategy for 2050
https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/056_Massa_USstrategy_sep21_DES.pdf
Reports on Space Force plans for Cislunar ops
Space Force ‘Serious’ About Planning for Cislunar Operations
Project Horizon Study – Volume 1 https://nsarchive2.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB479/docs/EBB-Moon01_sm.pdf
U.S. Army Weapons Command – The Meanderings of a Weapon Oriented Mind When Applied In A Vacuum Such as the Moon (1965)
https://embed.documentcloud.org/documents/3038458-The-Meanderings-of-a-Weapon-Oriented-Mind-When/
Helium leak issues on Orion
Reporting on potential NASA budget cuts
https://san.com/cc/congress-to-debate-broad-nasa-budget-cuts-as-
artemis-prepares-for-splashdown/
Orion skips course correction burns
https://scitechdaily.com/nasa-artemis-ii-skips-burn-as-astronaut-captures-stunning-view-of-earth/
Blue Moon Landers
https://www.blueorigin.com/blue-moon
U.S. Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act 2015
https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/2262
Reporting on Moon base plans
https://www.reuters.com/science/nasa-cancel-orbiting-lunar-station-build-moon-base-instead-2026-03-24/
Reporting on Chinese lunar base plans, lander and Mengzhou
https://www.space.com/china-moon-base-south-pole-2035
https://www.space.com/astronomy/moon/chinas-lunar-lander-aces-touchdown-and-takeoff-tests-ahead-of-planned-2030-crewed-moon-mission-video
https://www.reuters.com/science/nasas-lunar-success-sharpens-focus-chinas-2030-crewed-landing-goal-2026-04-08/
https://www.reuters.com/science/chinas-crewed-lunar-programme-eyes-astronaut-landing-by-2030-2026-04-02/
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/6/5/china-plans-to-complete-space-station-with-latest-mission
https://www.reuters.com/science/nasas-lunar-success-sharpens-focus-chinas-2030-crewed-landing-goal-2026-04-08/
Reporting on Indian Lunar Ambitions
https://www.space.com/india-land-astronauts-moon-2040
Source for Data on Annual Number of Objects Launched into Space
https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/yearly-number-of-objects-launched-into-outer-space
https://spacestatsonline.com/launches/country/chn
Luna-25
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-66562629v
Caveats & Comments:
All normal caveats and comments apply. In particular – I would like to note as always that this material has been created for entertainment purposes and is not intended to be a complete or comprehensive examination of the topic in question and should not be relied upon to inform financial or other similar decisions.
Any content relating to the conduct, views, activities or any aspect of any person or character in this video is included for entertainment purposes and does not represent an assertion of fact on those matters or any matters in relation to that person or character.
Care has been taken in compiling data, quotes, and other inputs from various sources but errors can occur. Quotes and included data should be considered illustrative, not definitive and their veracity should not be relied on.
Timestamps:
00:00:00 — Opening Words
00:01:07 — What Am I Talking About?
00:02:03 — Space Competition
00:08:03 — Milestones
00:12:45 — Artemis
00:29:24 — Resources in Space
00:38:07 — Competing Programs
00:43:17 — Militarisation
00:50:15 — Channel Update