The Artemis II mission was a privilege…was it one humanity deserves?
The Earth is on the brink of ecological disaster: by 2050, climate change will be irreversible, and there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish. This year alone, 363 million people worldwide are at risk of acute hunger. Despite these statistics, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) launched the Artemis II spacecraft on April 1st. During such troubling times, when it’s apparent more than ever that actions must be taken to save Earth and the life it supports, it is completely unnecessary to go to the moon: society’s primary focus as of right now should be saving the Earth.
Change on Earth is still possible, although action must be taken quickly and decisively. Conversely, rockets, like Artemis II’s Orion, contribute to pollution: they release chemicals and gases into the atmosphere that can end up causing damage to air quality as well as the ozone layer. With the climate clock ticking, it seems insensitive to further increase the damage done to the atmosphere.
It would be unfair to discuss the downsides of the Artemis II mission without acknowledging its strengths. On April 1st, millions worldwide watched as the Orion spacecraft launched into orbit, leaving people with a feeling of community and hope. The unity humanity has felt over the duration of the Artemis II flight was extraordinary, and that’s nothing. Rather, it’s simply necessary to be able to evaluate the “pros” against the “cons” of the cost, both environmentally and financially, and in doing so, it can be concluded that the moon cannot come at the expense of the Earth.
The Artemis II mission was productive in terms of testing Orion’s systems and monitoring human reactions to radiation, but at what cost? From 2012 to 2025, NASA spent $93 billion on the Artemis project. $93 billion that could have been spent on funding public education systems, medical research, and government aid programs that are currently severely underfunded. Just $23 billion of those dollars could have eliminated worldwide extreme hunger for an entire year. Space exploration and research are remarkable fields, but there’s a place and a time for everything.
In a time where natural and political crises have Earth in a chokehold, it seems appropriate to put a temporary pause on going to the moon and shift the focus to those more pressing issues back home, especially with ever-heightening political tensions, extreme hunger, poverty, and the climate clock ticking closer and closer to the point of no return.
