O retorno da lua como meta espacial das nações: a dinâmica da exploração espacial no século XXI

Abstract

In the 21st century, space exploration is undergoing a significant transformation, with the Moon re-emerging as a goal for the main national space programs, reaffirming its vital role in their long-term strategies. Unlike the bilateral competition characteristic of the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union, the new space era is marked by a multifaceted approach, focusing on the prolonged occupation of the Moon, raising the question of what the new space dynamics of the century are and the role the Moon plays in it. This study proposes that the colonization of the Moon and the exploitation of its resources will be a fundamental step in the development of technologies for more distant missions, such as the exploration of Mars. The rise of China as an astropolitical power has reignited the space race, evidenced by the success of its Chang’e program, which focuses on lunar missions, now taking Russia's place as the second-largest space power, which has elicited a response from the United States, which still maintains leadership in the space realm through the Artemis Program. However, the configuration of the new global dynamic is more complex, multifaceted, and enriched by the participation of new actors such as India, Japan, and the European Union, in addition to the presence of private entities. This context suggests an increase in geopolitical tensions and the possible emergence of new blocks of international cooperation, with China leading an opposition to American space supremacy.