Imperialism vs. socialism in space
www.workers.org
Bulletin:  Just as this article is being published, news comes that China’s Chang’e-6 mission has just succeeded in bringing back a sample of moondust from the far side of the moon. This feat represents another major step in eventual mining for helium-3, potentially the future source of clean and in

On a national level, a concrete example of socialist cooperation is the establishment of the Tiangong space station, established by [the People’s Republic of] China in 2021.

About that amazing accomplishment, Joshua Hanks describes in a WW article entitled “Workers power on display as Chinese astronauts arrive at Tiangong space station”: “Crews of three will rotate on missions lasting six months, and the station will be open to other countries. Seventeen countries have officially confirmed their participation, and astronauts from several countries are now learning Chinese. Astronauts from the European Space Agency have already trained on a mock Shenzhou spacecraft and could participate in future missions to Tiangong.”

Hanks continues: “Russia may pursue its own space station but is cooperating with China on other projects, including constructing a groundbreaking lunar base, which could host its first cosmonauts and taikonauts by 2030.” (workers.org/2021/06/57128/)

This rapid spurt of growth can be seen as well in other countries that are socialist or working toward socialism after a revolution changed those holding state power. These include [the Republics of] Cuba, Nicaragua, [the Bolivarian Republic of] Venezuela and [the Socialist Republic of] Vietnam, among others, despite continued interference by their [neo]imperialist oppressors to beat them out at all costs.

It may be that this increased rate of growth and development based in a socialist orientation may even win out in the competitive race in space. Given the Chinese approach to developing helium-3 for inexpensive clean energy on Earth, Mayes stresses: “It is clear that a ‘Chinese dominant space frontier’ is, in fact, a future everyone should want. If our planet is to survive the climate disaster, it is imperative for the [neo]imperialists to lose the race to the moon.’

Explaining [the People’s Republic of] China’s intentions, Mayes writes: “Far from seeking to profit, China’s approach to international energy production is geared to protecting the planet. As [Carlos Martinez] explains when discussing China’s ‘green energy’ solution in his abundantly researched book [“The East is Still Red: Chinese Socialism in the 21st Century”], socialist China’s international humanitarian policies are aimed at saving the globe from climate catastrophe.”

In other words, mature international competition and cooperation must triumph over an immature [neo]imperialist orientation aimed at maximizing profits over providing for human needs.