Can we colonise the Moon?

The Briefing Room

The first mission in NASA’s Artemis space programme returned to Earth earlier this month, after a journey of over 1.3 million miles around the Moon and back. Over next few years NASA will launch Artemis missions two and three, with the help of the European and Japanese space agencies, as well as Elon Musk's Space X. The aim is eventually to build a permanent base for scientific - and possibly economic development - on the Moon. Meanwhile, China is pursuing a lunar exploration programme of its own. So why is the Moon back in fashion? And is the world in the grip of a new space race? Joining David Aaronovitch in the Briefing Room are: Rebecca Morelle, BBC Science Correspondent John Zarnecki, Emeritus Professor of Space Sciences at the Open University Jack Burns, Professor of Astrophysics and Professor of Physics, University of Colorado Boulder Joanne Wheeler, Space Lawyer Bleddyn Bowen, Associate Professor of International Relations, Space Policy/Warfare Expert, University of Leicester Producers: Daniel Gordon, Kirsteen Knight and Ben Carter. Editor: Simon Watts. Studio Manager: Neil Churchill. Production co-ordinator Sophie Hill. PHOTO CREDIT: The launch of NASA's Artemis 1 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida (Getty Images)