Humanity is scheduled to return to the moon in 2027, but it will do so at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions reminiscent of the Cold War in many ways, including rearmament, new spheres of influence, and rising tensions between East and West.
As before, space is once again an arena of strategic competition. The new moon landings mean much more than a scientific advance, and are seen as a sign of technological leadership and geopolitical power in the new space race. A permanent presence on the Moon promises to influence future space standards, resource use, and international cooperation issues.
Ambitions will be correspondingly higher. The United States and Europe, as well as Russia and China in particular, are currently pursuing their own plans. In this context, the European Union is increasingly attracting attention. Increasingly, we serve not only as a partner of the United States, but also as an independent player in space.
This raises a new question: could this race end with the Germans landing on the moon for the first time?
US lunar plan with European signature
The return of humans to the moon is part of the NASA-led Artemis program. The United States is leading the way, with international partners, particularly the European Space Agency (ESA), playing a central role.
Manned orbit around the moon is planned for the first half of 2026. artemis 2. 1 year later artemis 3 For the first time since 1972, astronauts will land on the moon. In the long run, this program will gateway Moon station.
Europe is involved not only politically but also technically. A key component of the mission is the Orion spacecraft’s European Service Module. The module was developed by ESA on behalf of NASA and is largely manufactured in Germany.
This role could even now be honored with lunar priority. ESA Director-General Josef Aschbacher explained that it had been decided that the first Europeans to take part in future moon missions should be astronauts of German, French and Italian nationality. Germany should start.
Is Gerst the Gagarin of the 21st century?
Four Germans are currently trying to get a ticket to the moon. As things stand, Alexander Gerst and Matthias Maurer are considered the most likely candidates.
Gerst, a geophysicist and volcanologist, and Maurer, a materials researcher, have already been on the International Space Station (ISS) and are members of the European Space Agency’s (ESA) active astronaut team.
Experience is especially important in the selection process. According to current standards, only astronauts who have already been to space can participate in a mission to the moon. Two German reserve astronauts, biochemists Amelie Schoenenwald and Nicola Winter, do not yet meet this requirement.
However, it may still be several years before an actual moon mission is scheduled, so it cannot be ruled out that they too will have space experience and a chance by then.
Garst is already open to a mission to the moon. When asked if he could imagine flying to the moon, he answered, “Of course.”
For him, these tasks bring many benefits. Those who play an active role in the Moon program will remain at the forefront of key future technologies in space travel, including Earth observation, climate research, and European technological autonomy.
Gerst said it was impossible to determine at this stage whether German astronauts would be among the astronauts who actually set foot on the moon. In his view, this would in any case require significant involvement from the European Space Agency, which will provide key components of the mission.
Europe strives for independence
However, the presence of Europeans on the moon also has great symbolic meaning for Europe. Despite close cooperation with NASA, Europe remains dependent on the United States in many areas of space travel. At the same time, the European Union is pursuing the goal of increasing its technological independence.
This strategy is backed by a record budget from the European Space Agency (ESA). Member states have provided approximately 22.1 billion euros from 2026 to 2028. One focus is Europe’s independent access to space.
Within this framework, Germany wants to define its role as Europe’s strongest economic power and, if possible, at the forefront. Research Minister Dorothée Baer (CSU) talks about space travel being ‘Made in Germany’.
It seems no coincidence that since the beginning of the new legislative period, her department has officially included the term “space” in its name.
Germany is the largest contributor to the ESA, contributing 5.1 billion euros. Despite tight budgets, investing in space travel is necessary not only as an investment in the future, but also as a contribution to Europe’s sovereignty and security, according to Baer.
race in space
Other great powers also have ambitions beyond the globe. In Russia, for example, the state space agency Roscosmos plans to spend billions of dollars and wants to involve private investors far more widely than it has in the past.
Roscosmos CEO Dmitry Bakanov said the company plans to launch its own satellite internet service modeled on Starlink, expected to launch in 2027.
However, Russia’s prospects in a new race to the moon are currently considered limited. Experts expect delays due to logistical and financial issues. Luna 26’s lunar mission has already been postponed to 2028.
China, on the other hand, is much more dynamic. The People’s Republic is rapidly advancing its space program and increasingly positions itself as a strategic competitor to the United States. The official goal is to begin manned flights to the moon by 2030, although the Chinese government has so far given little concrete timelines.
A symbolic first step to the moon
As far as Germany is concerned, a trip to the moon could begin as early as 2026, but for the time being there are no plans to go directly to the moon with German astronauts. Giulia Bona, an Italian designer living in Berlin, created a mascot that can fly into space for NASA’s Artemis 2 mission.
The design shows a small astronaut riding on the shoulders of a giant called Orion, named after the mission’s space capsule and an allusion to the mythology in which Orion is associated with the goddess Artemis. Such so-called zero-G indicators have a long tradition, and Yuri Gagarin is said to have taken a small amulet into space in 1961.
Bona said she took part in the contest voluntarily. For her, it was an “unexpected joy” that her design made it to the final round.
She now hopes to see the mascot floating among the astronauts on a livestream when Artemis 2 launches. It would be a symbolic first step to the moon, at least for Germany.