The Artemis generation has its crew. Nasa today announced the four astronauts who will fly around the Moon on Artemis II, the first crewed mission of the programme since Apollo 17. The team includes Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen. But the announcement carried an unspoken signal for the UK Space Agency: the door to a deeper partnership is now wide open.
Artemis II is scheduled for late 2024, a ten-day mission that will take humans farther into space than ever before. The Orion spacecraft will loop around the Moon and return, testing life support and navigation systems for the lunar landing that follows on Artemis III. For the astronauts, it is a historic return to the Moon. For the UK, it is a diplomatic checkpoint.
The UK Space Agency has been quietly laying groundwork for participation in Artemis. In 2020, the UK signed the Artemis Accords, a US-led framework for responsible lunar exploration. Since then, British firms have secured contracts for parts of the Gateway station and the Orion service module. But a seat on a future Artemis mission remains the prize. Today’s announcement accelerates that agenda.
Minister of State for Science, Research and Innovation, George Freeman, said in a statement: "The UK is already a key partner in the Artemis programme. We are working closely with Nasa and other international partners to ensure British astronauts, scientists, and industry play a leading role in humanity’s return to the Moon." The tone was diplomatic. The subtext was strategy.
From a technology perspective, the Artemis programme represents a shift from government-led exploration to public-private partnerships. The lunar lander for Artemis III will be built by SpaceX, using its Starship vehicle. The Gateway station will rely on solar electric propulsion from Maxar. For the UK, this means leverage. British companies like Thales Alenia Space UK and Reaction Engines are already supplying critical technology. The next step is integration into the mission crew.
The ethical calculus here is fascinating. Artemis is framed as a return to the Moon, but it is also a proving ground for colonisation. The Gateway station will be a permanent outpost. Lunar mining is on the table. The UK Space Agency’s involvement must be scrutinised for sustainability and equity. Will British taxpayers fund a space programme that benefits private billionaires? Or will it prioritise scientific discovery and international cooperation?
Digital sovereignty is a quieter theme in this story. The Artemis Accords include provisions for resource extraction, essentially a legal framework for lunar capitalism. The UK must ensure that its participation does not replicate colonial patterns. The Moon belongs to no one, but the corporations building the infrastructure may disagree. The UK Space Agency’s partnership should include clauses for data sharing, open science, and governance of off-world resources.
For the common citizen, Artemis II is a spectacle. For the tech enthusiast, it is a testbed for quantum navigation, radiation shielding, and closed-loop life support. For the policy wonk, it is a treaty negotiation. The UK Space Agency must navigate all three layers. Today’s Nasa announcement is a trumpet call. The UK response should be a symphony.
As the four astronauts prepare for their journey, the question is not whether the UK will join them. It is whether the UK will bring its values along. The user experience of society depends on it.
