The Control of the Lunar South Pole
After the Apollo missions to the moon in 1969 and the 1970ies, the space research shifted to other goals. But since the 1990ies, the lunar research was restarted and intensified. Initially, the focus was on the development of science and technology for future moon missions. In addition to space agen...
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| Format: | Report |
| Language: | German |
| Published: |
2023
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.48693/387 https://osnadocs.ub.uni-osnabrueck.de/bitstream/ds-202308259628/1/Lunar_South_Pole_2023_Saalbach.pdf |
| Summary: | After the Apollo missions to the moon in 1969 and the 1970ies, the space research shifted to other goals. But since the 1990ies, the lunar research was restarted and intensified. Initially, the focus was on the development of science and technology for future moon missions. In addition to space agencies, commercial providers became increasingly active and were e.g., motivated by the Google Lunar X-Prize competition, which originally intended to award projects for a moon landing until 2018 the latest. But with the release of the US Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act in 2015, the focus began to shift from scientific to economic aspects, i.e., the potential exploitation of lunar resources. However, for a long-term presence, a habitable moon base would be needed with water, enough sunlight, and a stable landing place. The best combination of these factors is present on certain places of the Lunar South Pole which is now the key area of space geopolitics. Lunar settlements without access to lunar water are not possible and who controls the lunar water, has factual control over future lunar long-term activities. Indications for the existence of lunar water ice were found in the late 1990ies. Further research identified six craters on the Lunar South Pole as likely targets for water ice deposits and direct evidence for water ice resulted from lunar impactor studies. The United States with the Artemis program and China with the Chang’e program make steady progress to permanent moon bases (Artemis Base Camp vs. International Lunar Research Station ILRS) in overlapping lunar South Pole areas. Other competitors like Russia, India, Israel, and Japan were affected by landing accidents. Meanwhile, both East (China/Russia) and the West suspect each other that the true objective of their lunar research is the control of the Lunar South Pole and its water ice which would constitute a factual control over moon settlements and consequently of the lunar resources. There are growing tensions between United States and China ... |
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