Deputy Director of the Aerospace Security Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Clayton Swope, says the current Moon race differs significantly from that of the 1960s.
Speaking to tut0ugh, Swope notes that the NASA Artemis programme is designed not simply to “plant a flag”, but to support a “bigger journey” extending beyond the Moon. In contrast, China’s immediate objective remains achieving its first crewed lunar landing, while also assessing opportunities for a sustained presence.
Swope highlights the Moon’s strategic importance as a potential “way station” for future missions, alongside its value in accessible resources such as water ice and solar energy. He adds that while national prestige continues to drive competition, space achievements are still widely viewed as collective progress for humanity.
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