Actor Criticizes Artemis II Moon Mission as Waste of Money

Anthony Anderson says funds should go to issues like homelessness and rebuilding schools instead.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 12:05am

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A bold, abstract painting featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric circles, and precise spirals in earthy tones, conceptually representing the complex forces and concepts behind the Artemis II moon mission.As the Artemis II mission prepares to return, a prominent actor's criticism highlights the ongoing debate around prioritizing space exploration versus addressing pressing social and economic challenges on Earth.San Diego Today

Actor Anthony Anderson has criticized the Artemis II moon mission, calling it a waste of money that could be better spent addressing issues like homelessness and underfunded programs on Earth. Anderson questioned the purpose of the mission, arguing that the funds could be used to help people in need and rebuild infrastructure in his hometown of Compton.

Why it matters

Anderson's comments reflect a growing debate around the prioritization of space exploration versus addressing pressing social and economic challenges on Earth. As the Artemis II mission prepares to return, his criticism highlights the ongoing tensions between investing in scientific advancement and allocating resources to domestic issues.

The details

In an interview with TMZ, Anderson expressed his personal lack of interest in the Artemis II mission, stating that the money spent on the mission could be better used to address homelessness, dilapidated buildings, and underfunded programs that help people. He questioned the purpose of the mission, arguing that it is simply 'circling around a place we've only gone to once in the last 60 years' without any tangible benefits. Anderson also bizarrely suggested that the mission may be impacted by ICE deportations, questioning who will 'build this shit' in space.

  • The Artemis II mission is set to wrap up with a Pacific splashdown near San Diego on Friday, April 11, 2026, after ten days in flight.

The players

Anthony Anderson

An American actor known for his roles in TV shows like 'Black-ish' and films like 'The Departed' and 'Transformers'. He has been outspoken about social and political issues, including his criticism of the Artemis II moon mission.

Artemis II

The second mission in NASA's Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the Moon. The Artemis II mission will send four astronauts on a 10-day flight around the Moon, the first crewed mission to the Moon since the Apollo program.

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What they’re saying

“It really doesn't make any sense to me, when we look at the grand scheme of things, about what we need here and at home, for society.”

— Anthony Anderson, Actor

“We're going to go build a space — how they going to get shit up there? ICE is here stopping everybody and deporting everybody — not to be that guy, but — who's going to build this shit?”

— Anthony Anderson, Actor

What’s next

The Artemis II mission is scheduled to conclude with a Pacific splashdown near San Diego on Friday, April 11, 2026, marking the end of the 10-day crewed flight around the Moon.

The takeaway

Anderson's criticism of the Artemis II mission highlights the ongoing debate around the prioritization of space exploration versus addressing pressing social and economic challenges on Earth. As the mission prepares to return, his comments reflect the tensions between investing in scientific advancement and allocating resources to domestic issues that many feel need more attention and funding.