Within hours of each other on the same day, the best and worse of humanity were on display. In one instance, technology was being used for death and destruction and in the other, technology illuminated the best of human endeavour as it facilitated the advancement of space exploration and discovery.
The US President delivered a speech where it was announced that the US military will continue reign fury on Iran if the ruling regime didn’t capitulate and accept the deal that has been presented to them. And during the fifth week of the war while the US and Israel continue to bomb Iran, and with the US threatening to bomb vital civilian infrastructure, Iran wreaked havoc on the neighbouring Gulf countries.
A few hours before this speech, the world witness the launch of the Artemis II, after 50 years from the last landing on the moon. The world was in awe as four astronauts blasted into space on a 10-day expedition to circumvent the moon which was the farthest exploit into space up to this date.
A quote from one of the astronauts, courtesy of the BBC website read:
“Humanity has once again shown what we are capable of,” he said. “It’s your hopes for the future that carry us now on this journey around the Moon.”
Some commentators deliberated on how the expedition will be the start of the so-called space race with China, but one former astronaut provided a more nuanced and wise perspective, that each success by any country should be celebrated and used for the continual advancement of space exploration.
The main goal of this expedition was to observe the moon atmosphere to gain valuable environmental data to assess if it is possible to build a lunar station/base in the years to come from which to launch an expedition to Mars. One of the vital questions that this expedition and subsequent planned ones over the next few years was to determine if there is water (in any form) present within the geological composition of the moon’s surface.
If there is water, this will be a transformational discovery as water can be used to produce oxygen for creating the conditions to live and then hydrogen to create energy. This energy can be used to run life supporting infrastructure on the moon and to propel spacecraft further into space.
The Artemis II mission has been a tremendous success and will contribute immensely to the further advancement of the space exploration programme. In looking at the many ongoing wars, in the final analysis, are being waged to control the earth’s mineral resources. And thus, this begs the question. For any lunar minerals discovered on any of these expeditions, will we be able to utilise these resources more equitably?
Humans have always been explorers and creators of new technologies to advance our existence on earth. Where we have fallen short, in certain instances, is the environmental degradation in the creation of technology, exploitation of its use, and the inequitable share of its benefits. Talk in cheek – maybe in our exploits to explore further than the moon, we may discover another civilisation beyond, that see what we are doing on earth as ‘alien’ and show us how to distribute the benefits of our planet resources more equitably as they are doing amongst their fellow planetary inhabitants.
So, with Artemis II splashdown in the Pacific Ocean after its historic journey from the far side of the moon, it returned with the hopes and dreams for a better tomorrow. In it all, I have hope, if not to find a better example of a more equitable planet beyond, but that we as humans will persevere and strive toward a more equitable share of our natural resources while safeguarding the environment and the peaceful use of technology here on earth and beyond.