After more than 50 years following Apollo, the Artemis II mission reignites lunar conquest. But behind the spectacular images, the debate rages on: technological feat or costly gamble with limited scientific interest? Analysis by Stéphane Paltani, astrophysicist at the University of Geneva and president of the Swiss Commission for Space Research.
Fifty years after the first manned missions to the Moon, Artemis II is impressive. Sending four astronauts into lunar orbit remains, according to Stéphane Paltani, “an achievement.”
But despite the decades that have passed, the assessment is more nuanced: “One may believe that the improvement is not extraordinary,” emphasizes the Genevan astrophysicist. Humanity has still not crossed a major new threshold beyond the Moon.
Robots are doing better
From a scientific perspective, the verdict is clear. For Stéphane Paltani, manned missions like Artemis II do not currently provide “any gain.”
The images of the far side of the Moon? Already captured by probes. The scientific experiments? “99.99% of them are conducted by unmanned missions,” he points out. Satellites and robots perform these tasks with much greater efficiency and at a lower cost.
And the bill is steep: around 4 billion dollars for Artemis II, compared to just tens of millions for some robotic missions.
A lunar base… for tomorrow, perhaps
Artemis’ goal goes beyond the current mission. NASA aims to build a manned base on the Moon. This is where a scientific interest could arise. Installing instruments directly on the lunar surface would open up new perspectives. But for now, this remains hypothetical.
“In the future, there may be a scientific interest,” concedes Stéphane Paltani. “In the short term, the mission is more about demonstration than research.”
A geopolitical battle above all
So why invest so much? The answer goes far beyond science. “I see it primarily as geopolitical questions,” says Stéphane Paltani. The space race, inherited from the Cold War, has never really disappeared.
The timeline itself is intriguing: a planned moon landing in 2028, during the American electoral period. A coincidence that speaks volumes.
