With Lithuania's formal signing of the Artemis Accords, the U.S.-led re-entry program to the moon has added a new member, marking a further expansion of the International Alliance for Lunar Exploration. As the 40th member country, Lithuania's participation is not only a recognition of the United States' vision to return to the moon, but also another milestone in deepening cooperation in space exploration around the world. The Artemis Accords are known as the prototype of the "Lunar NATO" because it aims to establish a framework of international rules to promote the peaceful use of lunar resources, protect historical sites, and ensure transparency and mutual benefit in space exploration.
The Artemis program, named after the goddess of the moon in Greek mythology, is the most ambitious U.S. space exploration program since Apollo. Not only does the plan aim to return astronauts to the moon, but it also sets a series of ambitious goals, including putting a woman on the lunar surface for the first time, establishing a sustainable lunar base, and laying the groundwork for future exploration of Mars. However, this ambitious vision has not been easy, and the development of its core hardware, the Orion spacecraft, the Starship lunar module, and the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, has been delayed to varying degrees. These technical challenges, combined with budget overruns and policy changes, have forced the manned lunar landing program scheduled for 2024 to be postponed until 2030.
The signing of the Artemis Accords is a manifestation of the international community's common interest and responsibility for lunar exploration. Since it was first proposed by NASA in 2020, the agreement has attracted a wide range of participation, including European countries, Asian partners, and emerging space nations. The agreement emphasizes that the exploitation of space resources should comply with international law and advocates environmental protection and scientific sharing, thus avoiding the potential risk of competing for space resources and building a rules-based space order. This model of multilateral cooperation, although jokingly called "lunar NATO", actually embodies the concept of peaceful coexistence and win-win development more than militarized confrontation.
Against this backdrop, the U.S. plan to return to the moon is inevitably viewed in the broader context of the U.S.-China space competition. Despite the official US statement that it will not be dragged into an "arms race", ensuring that it remains ahead in the field of space, especially in the exploration of the moon, is undoubtedly part of the invisible contest between China and the United States. China's rapid progress in the field of space in recent years, including the successful implementation of the Chang'e lunar exploration project and the construction of the Tiangong space station, has undoubtedly increased the tension in this "soft power" race. However, the U.S. strategic realignment shows a more mature and long-term approach, which is to ensure long-term leadership in space exploration by strengthening international cooperation and steadily advancing key technological breakthroughs, rather than simply pursuing short-term "firsts."
In the face of these challenges, the United States and its allies are focusing on developing detailed implementation paths for key missions such as a manned landing on the moon and the return of samples from Mars by 2030. The continued development of the Orion spacecraft, the Starship lunar module, and the SLS rocket, despite facing delays, is paving the way for the advancement of human deep space exploration capabilities. The Orion spacecraft is a new generation of manned spacecraft designed to support long-term deep space flights, and the development of the Starship lunar module is key to achieving lunar activities. The SLS rocket, one of the most powerful vehicles ever built, will provide these payloads with the necessary thrust to break away from Earth's gravity and move towards the distant Moon.
The accession of Lithuania has once again demonstrated the common desire of the international community for the peaceful exploration of the universe. In this new era of space racing, speed is no longer the only measure, cooperation, innovation, and sustainability have become the key words. While ensuring technological progress, the United States and its partners are also working to uphold the principle of space as the common heritage of all mankind, and strive to make the moon and beyond, the sea of stars, a new arena for cooperation among nations, rather than a front line for conflict. The blueprint for space exploration before 2030 is not only a challenge to the limits of science and technology, but also a demonstration of the courage of human civilization to explore the unknown. In this process, every step of exploration will open up new possibilities for the future of humanity.