NASA administrator: 'We are very much in a space race right now' against China

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson declared Sunday that the United States is in a "space race right now" with China, as both countries compete to land astronauts on the moon and establish a long-term presence.

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The Chinese are moving at incredible speeds, and they are certainly capable of doing what the Soviets were not during the first space race.

Nelson highlighted China's rapid progress, stating they are "certainly capable of doing what the Soviets were not during the first space race." While the U.S. aims for a lunar landing in 2028, China intends to send its own astronauts before 2030. Nelson noted the timelines are close, with China targeting 2029 and the U.S. aiming for late 2028.

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They are thinking in 2029, we're saying end of 2028 is when we're targeting the landing.

"The question is, will the United States return before them, and will we do so in a different way this time?" Nelson asked. "Will we build the base, establish that enduring presence? I think the answer is yes." He outlined that the Artemis III mission, scheduled for next year, will test critical lunar landing systems, a key step before the U.S. can return astronauts to the moon.

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The question is, will the United States return before them, and will we do so in a different way this time? Will we build the base, establish that enduring presence? I think the answer is yes.

Looking ahead, NASA plans to build a moon base, with missions launching nearly monthly in 2027 to create an "enduring presence" and a "proving ground for Mars." Nelson predicted that by the early 2030s, the moon could resemble the International Space Station, with crews on extended stays to prepare for Mars missions.

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This is an achievable plan to put astronauts back on the surface of the moon.