The NASA Administrator: China May Surpass the US in the Lunar Race
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman has acknowledged that the United States has actually entered a new space race with China. He believes both nations are committed to being the first to establish a foothold on the Moon, sending astronauts to land there, and creating a near-permanent presence on the lunar surface.
"We are indeed at the peak of a new space race," Isaacman pointed out: "China is advancing at an incredible pace and has the capability to achieve what the Soviet Union failed to accomplish during the first space race."
Under current plans, the United States expects to send astronauts back to the Moon in 2028, while China aims to send its astronauts to the Moon before 2030. However, Isaacman emphasized that the actual gap between these two timelines is much smaller than it appears at first glance.
"China is targeting 2029, while we aim to achieve a lunar landing by the end of 2028. The difference is measured in months, not years."
Meanwhile, the NASA administrator has no doubt that China will fulfill its own goals.
He added: "There is no doubt Chinese astronauts will land on the Moon. The question is whether the United States can get there first and whether we will do so in a way different from our previous mission. Will we build a base? Can we sustain long-term presence? I believe the answer is yes."
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1870039008961543/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author