On April 1, 2026, as part of the Artemis 2 mission, four astronauts named Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen, were sent into lunar orbit. During the mission, which is planned to last approximately ten days, the astronauts will test the reliability of crewed flight operations around the Moon, evaluate life support systems in deep space, and collect data for future lunar landings.[1] Considering that the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) conducted its last crewed Moon mission in 1972, the question of why the United States (U.S.) has returned to the Moon after such a long break comes to mind for almost everyone.
Looking back, it is seen that the period during which the United States invested most heavily in space activities was the Cold War. Following the end of the Cold War, there was a relative pause in US space policy, and NASA’s priorities and the budget allocated to space activities were kept within a more limited framework.[2] However, in the early 2000s, sensing a threat from China’s growing space activities and ambitious space goals, the U.S. accelerated its space efforts and increased its investments in this sector. In this context, the U.S. Artemis program can be viewed within the context of the growing great power competition in today’s international system.
A key factor behind this competition is the advancement China has made in the space field in recent years. Through programs led by the China National Space Administration (CNSA), China’s ability to conduct crewed spaceflights, build its own space station known as the Tiangong Space Station, to maintain a permanent presence in orbit, and establish the BeiDou Satellite Navigation System as an alternative global navigation system demonstrates that the country has become an independent power in space. These advances show that space has become a competitive arena from the U.S. perspective.
The International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) project, co-developed by China and Russia, is another concrete example of this competition. The ILRS aims to establish a permanent research base on the lunar surface and presents an alternative model for international cooperation through calls for multilateral participation. This initiative creates a direct comparison with the US-led Artemis program. The Artemis Accords, developed under the Artemis program, reflect the U.S.’s efforts to play a norm-setting role in space alongside its allies.
ABD’nin One of the motives behind the U.S. return to the Moon is the desire not to lose its leadership role in this norm-setting process. Indeed, while the Outer Space Treaty, which serves as the basis for the current international framework, emphasizes the peaceful use of space, it does not offer clear and detailed provisions on issues such as the ownership of resources, the scope of commercial activities, and the role of private companies. This gap creates an environment where countries and institutions operating on the Moon can establish new norms through their actual activities. Given that space law still contains uncertainties in many ways, activities carried out on the Moon could form the basis for future regulations. Therefore, establishing an early presence on the Moon signifies institutional and legal superiority.
In addition, the potential resources found on the Moon play a significant role in U.S. strategic calculations. In particular, the presence of rare elements such as helium-3 (He-3), which can be used for energy production, and water ice makes the Moon economically attractive. The existence of water ice is not limited to providing drinking water; it can also be separated into hydrogen and oxygen for use in rocket fuel production. This could transform the Moon into a “logistical base,” significantly reducing the costs and challenges of missions to other planets and celestial bodies, particularly Mars.
Helium-3 is one of the most significant sources in this context. This isotope, which is extremely scarce on Earth, is believed to have accumulated in greater quantities on the Moon’s surface due to solar winds. The most important feature of He-3 is its potential use as a fuel in nuclear fusion reactions. In particular, He-3-based fusion reactions are believed to be one of the sustainable energy sources of the future, as they produce lower levels of radioactive waste. Although the extraction and use of these resources are still at the theoretical stage, they are expected to play a crucial role in the future of the energy and space economies. Therefore, investments in the Moon can be viewed as part of long-term economic competition.
In conclusion, the United States’ return to the Moon is the result of a multilayered strategy. While scientific discoveries and technological developments are important elements of this process, the primary driving factors are great power competition, efforts to establish international norms, and potential economic interests.
[1] Alex Fitzpatrick. (2026). “Artemis II successfully launches for historic Moon mission”, Axios, https://www.axios.com/2026/04/01/moon-artemis-ii-launch-florida (Date Accessed: 04.04.2026).
[2] Célia Cornec. (2019). The Post-Cold War Issues of the Space Conquest. Honors Collegium, 14, 1-37.
