Artemis II: Why the US is returning to the Moon and what policy expert Scott Pace explains

Source: The Conversation Weekly. In this Conversation Weekly interview, Scott Pace, director of the Space Policy Institute at George Washington University, explains why NASA is returning to the Moon with Artemis II and what it signals for the future of crewed spaceflight. Artemis II will carry four astronauts for about 10 days in the Orion spacecraft, marking the first crewed lunar orbit in more than five decades. Delays caused by a fuel leak pushed launch windows to early April, underscoring the ongoing challenges of testing the Space Launch System. Pace argues that maintaining a high flight rate and building strong partnerships with commercial partners are essential to setting lunar standards and sustaining Artemis beyond its initial phase. The piece is authored by Katie Flood and Gemma Ware for The Conversation Weekly.

Artemis II: A milestone in crewed lunar exploration

The Conversation Weekly profiles Artemis II, NASA's next step in returning humans to the Moon. The mission, slated to launch in early April after an earlier fuel-leak delay, will have four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft for about 10 days, taking them farther into space than any humans have traveled in the past half-century as they orbit the Moon and return to Earth. This episode features Scott Pace, director of the Space Policy Institute at George Washington University, who explains the rationale behind sending people back around the Moon and what it means for the broader Artemis program and future human spaceflight.

Pace’s perspective on the mission is framed within a competitive geopolitical landscape. He notes that after the United States beat the Soviet Union to the Moon in the late 1960s, the geopolitical motive for continuing Moon missions diminished. Today, Pace argues, the geopolitical purpose for being on the Moon is to be there a lot, to establish and influence operating norms and standards, and to ensure the United States and its allies play a leading role in lunar governance. “The geopolitical purpose for being on the Moon is to be there a lot.” – Scott Pace, Director, Space Policy Institute at George Washington University.

"The geopolitical purpose for being on the Moon is to be there a lot" - Scott Pace, Director, Space Policy Institute at George Washington University

Geopolitics and the Moon: Why pace argues for sustained presence

The interview situates Artemis II within a larger context: the Artemis program aims to return humans to the lunar surface by 2028, with China pursuing its own crewed lunar ambitions by 2030. Pace warns that if China drives the standards and operating norms on the Moon, it could shape global space governance to its advantage. He likens the Moon to an international arena where being present matters for setting rules and expectations, much as presence on Antarctica influences governance there. “Rules are made by people who show up,” Pace says, highlighting the importance of sustained lunar activity and the creation of shared norms through real-world presence.

Pace emphasizes expanding flight capacity to enable multiple crewed missions per year and stresses the importance of partnerships with commercial space companies as a path to scalable lunar operations. He frames Artemis II not as a one-off test mission but as a learning phase that will determine how NASA and industry can sustain a broader lunar presence in the coming years.

"What we’re seeing now with Artemis is NASA and industry learning how to fly to the Moon, and then making a decision about what will be a sustainable future for doing this" - Scott Pace, Director, Space Policy Institute at George Washington University

The Artemis program, industry partnerships, and the path forward

The Conversation Weekly interview also touches on the role of commercial partnerships in achieving a sustainable lunar future. Pace notes that NASA’s collaborations with industry could accelerate the flight rate, reduce costs, and help establish a robust lunar logistics and infrastructure framework. He argues that a higher cadence of missions will be essential to maintaining momentum and ensuring the U.S. remains at the forefront of lunar exploration, especially in light of global competition and evolving international space policy.

The discussion connects Artemis II to broader questions about what happens after Artemis II. Pace suggests this is a live debate about sustainable governance, the balance between government-led exploration and commercial participation, and how to maintain momentum toward a sustained human presence on the Moon. “That is a current debate that will shape what happens after Artemis II.” – Scott Pace, Director, Space Policy Institute at George Washington University.

The episode also acknowledges the broader media landscape, with news clips from multiple outlets contributing to the conversation about Artemis II’s timeline and significance. Katie Flood and Gemma Ware are credited as writers and producers for The Conversation Weekly, with mixing by Eleanor Brezzi and Neeta Sarl providing the theme music.

In sum, Artemis II represents more than a technical milestone; it is a strategic move in ongoing space policy, geopolitics, and public-private partnerships that will shape the future of human spaceflight and the norms governing activity on and around the Moon.

Quotes and framing throughout the podcast emphasize Pace’s view that the Moon is a platform for establishing standards, building international cooperation, and sustaining a high tempo of lunar missions as the United States and its allies define the future of space exploration.