"Why the Far Side of the Moon Now Amid Middle East War?... The Truth Beyond Conspiracy Theories [Why&Next]"

NASA Unveils "Lunar Base," China Pushes "2035 Outpost"

Accelerating the Race to Define Lunar Order Amid Ongoing Conflicts

As NASA released images of the far side of the Moon captured by its crewed lunar exploration spacecraft Artemis II, global attention—previously focused on the frontlines in Ukraine and the Middle East—swiftly shifted beyond Earth. This raises the question: Why has the United States chosen to conduct a roughly ten-day round-trip lunar mission at this particular moment?

However, the essence of the recent release of images from the Moon's far side is not to serve as a distraction from ongoing wars. Rather, it highlights a new phase in the competition between the United States and China—a shift from "who gets to the Moon first" to "who stays on the Moon longer and shapes the new order there."

The crew of NASA's Artemis 2 captured an image of the Earth setting in a crescent shape along the edge of the Moon just before experiencing the planned signal blackout as they passed behind the Moon on April 6 (Eastern Time, USA). Photo by NASA

The Artemis program, which was relaunched in 2017, formalized its goal of returning humans to the Moon in 2019 and successfully completed its uncrewed test mission, Artemis I, in 2022. Artemis II, which is currently underway, is the next phase—a crewed deep-space validation mission that has been planned for several years. This contradicts conspiracy theories suggesting the project was hastily organized in response to recent international developments.

In this mission, NASA sent the Orion spacecraft carrying four astronauts to the far side of the Moon, setting a new record for the most distant crewed flight in human history. While passing through the far side—where communication with Earth is entirely cut off for about 40 minutes—the crew managed to capture images of the lunar surface and the "Earthset" scene. NASA released these images in real time, drawing global attention. More significant than the images themselves, however, is the validation of essential technologies needed for future crewed lunar landings, such as life support systems, free-return trajectories, blackout zone communications, and thermal protection for high-speed reentry.

From 'Landing' to 'Outpost': The Shift in Lunar Competition

NASA itself does not view this mission as a mere publicity event. Jared Isaacman, a former private astronaut who became NASA's 15th Administrator late last year, recently emphasized, "This program goes beyond simply planting a flag somewhere on the Moon. It is about building a sustainable lunar base and establishing a forward operating base for Mars exploration." The release of the far side images is not just another space event, but a symbolic asset meant to imprint the United States' long-term lunar outpost strategy in the public consciousness.

China is also openly pursuing a long-term outpost strategy. Wu Weiren, chief designer of the lunar exploration program at the China National Space Administration (CNSA), stated in a recent international interview, "By 2035, we will complete the basic model of the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) and launch resource development and utilization on a notable scale." This underscores that the competition is evolving beyond simple landings to see who can stay longer and make greater use of lunar resources.

In practice, China is keeping pace with the United States by maintaining its schedules for the Long March 10 launch vehicle, the Mengzhou crewed spacecraft, and the Lanyue lunar lander. The United States is expanding its alliance of partner countries through the Artemis Accords, while China and Russia are forming a bloc centered on the ILRS. The Moon is rapidly transforming from a stage for scientific exploration into a geopolitical front, where international norms, resources, and technological standards are fiercely contested.

Ultimately, these new images from the far side of the Moon are far more than just snapshots of a cosmic landscape. In an era where war and technological supremacy intersect, the United States is unveiling its next step—a "lunar base"—while China is presenting its "2035 outpost" as a long-term roadmap. Both are accelerating the race to establish lunar order and dominance.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.