Space exploration is entering a new phase marked by both international cooperation and competition among the major powers, with the United States maintaining its leading position, said American astronaut Jeff Williams in an interview with IPN.
According to this, although the Artemis program is based on sustainable development and cooperation, competition in the space field remains relevant, especially in relation to China. At the same time, the USA continues to play a central role in the development of new technologies and in coordinating major exploration projects.
Jeff Williams emphasized that the Artemis program is not just a scientific mission, but also a strategic step towards consolidating human presence on the Moon and, subsequently, towards exploring deep space. In this context, US leadership is essential both for technological progress and for geopolitical influence at a global level.
The astronaut further mentioned that space exploration cannot be separated from the political dimension and can be considered a tool of “soft power”, through which states assert their role on the international stage.
In his opinion, the following years will bring an increasingly active presence of man on the Moon, but not a permanent one, rather in the form of repeated missions, which will prepare the future stages of space exploration.