Letters to The Editor — April 4, 2026

Going back to the moon

At a time when global humanity is a mute witness to the dance of destruction in West Asia, the sight of the Artemis II spacecraft successfully lifting off with four astronauts from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral on its lunar mission was refreshing. The watershed event, on Wednesday, also shows why the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in the United States continues to be rated as the premier global space agency. This historic event should serve as an eye-opener to the powers that be and to all right-thinking people across the world to engage in the constructive and productive use of science and technology for the betterment of mankind.

B. Suresh Kumar,

Coimbatore

The latest momentum in lunar exploration reflects not just a scientific pursuit but also a strategic contest. Plans for bases, refuelling depots and resource extraction indicate that the moon is rapidly becoming an arena of influence. India’s emerging capabilities and cooperative commitments should emphasise peaceful use and shared benefits. Preserving the moon as a global commons is essential to ensure rivalry does not overshadow research.

Aadil Ghulam Bhat,

Kulgam, Jammu and Kashmir