Toward Dual Use Deterrence on the Moon

It is necessary to have a backup plan that can deter China from aggressive behavior on the moon and to defend against potentially dangerous behaviors.

NASA’s Orion spacecraft Integrity passes around the moon on April 6, 2026. Screenshot/NASA

Commentary

As the United States pursues its goal of sending astronauts to the moon starting in 2028 to start building lunar bases—and China pursues its goal of sending its people to the moon by 2029 or 2030, also to start building lunar bases—it is necessary to consider a lunar political-military stability based on dual-use technologies.