The Politics of Space Travel And How It Shapes National Economies Round The World
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By Wilson Macaulay In my earlier article, “How the Colonization of the Moon Began,” I argued that the struggle in space had gone far beyond planting flags on distant worlds. Today, that struggle has evolved into a contest over who controls the affairs of the earthly universe itself. A New Phase of the Space Race Once, the Cold War defined space politics. The U.S. and the Soviet Union raced to the Moon, with the American flag finally triumphing in 1969. But in 2025, the battle has shifted. It is no longer about who gets there first—it is about who stays, controls, and benefits. Senator Ted Cruz recently warned during a Senate hearing that “we are in a new space race, and China is closing in fast.” His concern underscores a reality: the outcome of this rivalry will not only determine who walks on the Moon next, but who reaps the trillion-dollar rewards tied to lunar resources, satellite economies, and orbital security. U.S.–China Rivalry: Security Meets Economics NASA’s Artemis program—n...