In a recent interview on "Face the Nation," NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman stated that the United States is "very much in a space race right now" against China. He highlighted China's rapid advancements in space exploration, noting that they are moving at "incredible speeds" and are capable of achieving milestones that the Soviet Union could not during the original space race.
Isaacman emphasized the proximity of the timelines for lunar missions, with China aiming to send its astronauts, known as taikonauts, to the moon before 2030, while the U.S. targets a landing by the end of 2028. He expressed confidence that China will land its taikonauts on the moon but questioned whether the United States will return first and establish a sustainable presence. Isaacman believes that the U.S. will not only return to the moon before China but will also build a base and establish an enduring presence, serving as a proving ground for future missions to Mars.
The Artemis program, led by NASA, aims to return astronauts to the lunar surface by 2028. The upcoming Artemis III mission, scheduled for next year, will test critical lunar landing systems and serve as a key milestone before the U.S. can send astronauts back to the moon. Isaacman outlined that on Artemis III, "three of the world's most powerful rockets will come together and test out their capabilities in Earth orbit," in what he called "very a la Apollo 9" fashion, to give NASA "the confidence in our landers for Artemis IV in 2028."
Meanwhile, NASA plans to work on its moon base, with missions launched on a nearly monthly cadence in 2027 to establish an enduring presence. Isaacman predicted that starting next year, NASA could begin building the base. Then, when the astronauts get to the surface of the moon in 2028, he said "there's going to be a buggy there, a lunar terrain vehicle, there's going to be a start of infrastructure," followed by more in 2029. He envisions that by the early 2030s, the moon will be like the International Space Station, with crews there for extended periods as they learn in that environment and prepare for Mars.
Isaacman's remarks underscore the intensifying competition between the U.S. and China in space exploration. Both nations are striving to achieve significant milestones on the moon, with implications for international influence and future exploration endeavors. The outcome of this space race will likely shape the trajectory of lunar exploration and the broader geopolitical landscape in the coming decades.
As the U.S. and China continue to advance their respective space programs, the global community watches closely, anticipating the developments that will unfold in this new era of space exploration.