Published on: 2026-04-13
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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After a 10-day journey around the Moon, four astronauts of NASA’s Artemis-2 project successfully returned to Earth last Friday. The historic mission, which set a record for the distance of a human flight into space, was an important step on the way to returning humans to the lunar surface for the first time since 1972, and also laid the foundation for the future exploration of space.
The UN Ambassador for Space Affairs, world-renowned astrophysicist and TV host, Professor Brian Cox, stated in an interview with the UN News Service that the discussion is no longer only about space exploration, but also about improving the life of every person.
Space economy
Ultimately, the “Artemis” program is aimed at ensuring a permanent human presence on the Moon, exploring its south pole, and testing technologies for future manned missions to Mars.
“When we strive for space, we must remember that we do not leave our planet, but the planet does not lose its importance for us… we do this to improve our life on this planet,” said Professor Cox.
According to a scientist who also serves as the UN Envoy on Space Affairs, the exploration of outer space is no longer science fiction, but “an important part of the life of each of us and our terrestrial economy.”
Space technologies can help solve the most serious problems facing our planet, including climate change, disaster consequences elimination, and ensuring sustainable development.
“An increasing number of things that we have here on Earth are taken for granted, are already becoming part of the space economy,” emphasized Professor Cox.
Satellite images allow monitoring of crop yields, more efficient management of water resources, and tracking of deforestation in real time. Satellite communication can support remote learning in isolated schools and telemedicine in remote areas.
© JAXA/NASA
MIR-SAT1: the first satellite in history launched by Mauritius and deployed into orbit from the International Space Station.
Role of the UN
According to Professor Cox, the role of the United Nations Organization beyond the stratosphere is unique: it is a structure that contributes to strengthening the potential of countries in the field of peaceful exploration and use of outer space. The UN provides a platform for achieving consensus among member states, including on potentially complex issues such as cooperation in lunar research, space traffic, and planetary defense.
“Space unites people because there are no borders there,” he says.
Cosmic wisdom
“We often idealize space, but this is not naive idealism,” Professor Cox emphasizes. In particular, he recalls the 1975 “Soyuz-Apollo” mission — a crucial episode of scientific and political cooperation between the USA and the Soviet Union, when the spacecraft of the two countries docked in orbit for the first time.
“It was unthinkable that the United States and the Soviet Union, whatever it was like then, would cooperate in space and jointly develop the technologies we still use today,” he said.
Among the items exchanged at that time by Soviet and American cosmonauts was the UN flag, symbolizing the recognition of humanity’s achievements in space.
General Benefits
“If everyone has the opportunity to contribute to the exploration of outer space and benefit from it, moving forward will become easier,” says Professor Cox. “Progress will come faster if everyone cooperates.”
The UN, together with its partners, helped such countries as Kenya, Mauritius, Moldova, and Guatemala launch their first satellites. As more states join the space club, the United Nations helps developing spacefaring countries in drafting national space legislation that complies with international obligations.
Space debris problem
Space is limitless, but it is becoming increasingly crowded. In 2025, more than 4,500 new satellites were launched, whereas ten years earlier there were just over two hundred.
Many space objects are destroyed in orbit, creating debris. According to estimates, there are now up to 130 million fragments in near-Earth space.
Even very small fragments, less than one centimeter in size, can cause catastrophic damage. Scientists warn of the Kessler syndrome threat—a chain reaction when collisions of space objects create more debris, leading to further collisions.
As we develop infrastructure in space and increasingly rely on it on Earth, serious problems are also growing, Cox warns.
UN flag on Mars?
The professor says that above all he would like to see in his lifetime the discovery of “yet another living world”: “I would not be surprised if microbes were found on a satellite of the planets of the Solar System or on Mars. However, I would be very surprised if some complex forms of life were found in the Solar System.”
Brian Cox eagerly awaits another landing on the Moon and hopes that one day humans will step onto Mars: “I think that when we plant a flag on the surface of Mars, it will be the flag of the United Nations.”
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