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US in space race with China, capable of what Soviets couldn't achieve: NASA chief
🇦🇷 Argentina /Technology

US in space race with China, capable of what Soviets couldn't achieve: NASA chief

From La Nación · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • The U.S. is in a space race with China, with both nations aiming to establish a permanent presence on the Moon.
  • NASA Administrator Bill Nelson stated that China is capable of achieving what the Soviet Union could not in the initial space race.
  • NASA plans to land astronauts on the Moon by 2028 and begin constructing a lunar base, with China targeting a lunar landing in 2029.

The United States is locked in a competitive space race with China, with both nations vying for lunar dominance. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson expressed confidence in U.S. plans but acknowledged China's significant capabilities, stating they could achieve what the Soviets failed to do in the Cold War.

Without a doubt, they are capable of doing what the Soviets could not achieve in the first space race.

— Jared IsaacmanIsaacman, head of NASA, commented on China's space capabilities in an interview with CBS News.

Both countries aim to land astronauts on the Moon and establish a lasting presence. While the U.S. targets a return to the lunar surface in 2028 with the Artemis III mission, China is expected to land its taikonauts in 2029, making the difference a matter of months.

They will land their taikonauts on the Moon, there is no doubt about it.

— Jared IsaacmanIsaacman stated his certainty about China's upcoming lunar landing.

NASA's ambitious plan includes testing critical landing systems and preparing for Artemis IV. The agency intends to launch missions almost monthly in 2027 to establish infrastructure, including an all-terrain vehicle, by the time astronauts arrive in 2028. Nelson envisions the Moon becoming a hub similar to the International Space Station by the early 2030s, potentially fostering a lunar economy.

This is a viable plan for astronauts to return to the surface of the Moon.

— Jared IsaacmanIsaacman described the plan for the Artemis III mission.

This intensified competition underscores a new era of space exploration, driven by national ambitions and technological advancements. The race to the Moon is seen as a stepping stone for future missions to Mars, highlighting the long-term strategic importance of lunar presence.

Someday there will be a lunar economy.

— Jared IsaacmanIsaacman shared his vision for the future of lunar exploration.
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Originally published by La Nación in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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