Why do different countries in the world want to go to the moon?

Astronomer at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, McDowell, shared with the BBC in December 2022 that nations possessing space capabilities, such as the US, Russia, and China, have set their sights on establishing a moon base for astronauts.

“The moon serves as a crucial stepping stone before venturing to destinations like Mars,” he mentioned. “Additionally, the moon provides an ideal testing ground for technologies destined for deep space.”

Lucinda King, the space project manager at the University of Portsmouth, highlighted the advantage of utilizing less fuel to launch a spacecraft from the Moon compared to Earth.

She also revealed the discovery of a fuel source on the moon. “It’s common knowledge that water is present at the Moon’s south pole. This water can be broken down into hydrogen and oxygen, forming fuel for spacecraft bound for Mars or any other location in space,” said Dr. King.

“And this urgency to reach the moon stems from the desire to secure ownership of this water source.”

Dr. McDowell emphasized, “In recent years, there has been a collective vision driving the concept of human civilization extending to Mars and beyond.”

This is why he believes nations like China and India are establishing themselves as formidable space powers, joining the ranks of the US, Russia, and Europe.

“Governments in these nations have recognized that if this is the future, we cannot afford to lag behind.”

The knowledge gained from rock samples brought back by NASA’s Apollo spacecraft has significantly enriched our understanding of Earth and Moon’s geologic history.

David Kring, a lunar geologist at the Center for Lunar Science and Exploration in Houston, Texas, asserted that the explorers’ collected samples will impart even greater knowledge.

“If one aims to comprehend the origins and evolution of the solar system, the moon is undoubtedly the prime location to explore…,” he affirmed.

Due to the absence of atmosphere and water flow on the Moon, there has been no weathering, allowing it to retain its primitive state.

NASA, in August, unveiled 13 potential landing sites for its lunar mission, all located at the moon’s south pole, where frozen water has been detected.

Bethany Ellman, associate director of the California Institute of Technology’s Keck Institute for Space Studies, asserted that these sites offer optimal conditions to study the moon’s geology, ice, and gather valuable samples.

Kathleen Lewis, curator of the international space program at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, compared the lunar exploration fervor to the historical ‘gold rush’—a frenzy akin to the pursuit of gold mines or fortunes.

She suggested calling it the ‘ice rush’—an endeavor to uncover and utilize lunar ice resources.

In 2018, scientists made a breakthrough by discovering frozen water or water ice in the polar region of the moon. Since then, the US, China, Russia, and India have targeted this icy region, recognizing the potential for water to be used as rocket fuel or for production on the moon.

Yet, Miz believes that the discovery of moon ice is not the sole impetus behind this race for lunar exploration, suggesting political motives are also at play.

According to him, the technological landscape for lunar missions has drastically evolved since the mid-20th century. During that era, only the United States and the Soviet Union were at the forefront of lunar mission technology.

He believes that US President John F. Kennedy supported the lunar mission at the time because his advisers convinced him of its technical feasibility and potential to outpace the Soviet Union.

Back then, the United States developed the Saturn V rocket, a groundbreaking technology until the launch of NASA’s Space Launch System in 2022.

Many view NASA’s Apollo program as a crucial step in outpacing the Soviet Union in the lunar mission, which it successfully achieved.

However, there was no long-term strategy to establish a permanent human presence on the moon at that time.

Today, several countries and even private companies possess the technological prowess to launch lunar expeditions. Space is now more congested than ever, with satellites integral to the Earth’s economy, facilitating communication systems, signal exchange, and monitoring resources related to agricultural activities on the surface.

The current objective extends beyond achieving technical excellence. Nations are now focused on acquiring the existing technologies necessary for economic self-sufficiency and prosperity.