Trump Declared a Space Race With China. The US Is Losing
WIRED • • world
Key Points:
- The U.S. lunar program faces significant challenges, including budget cuts, leadership turmoil, and a complicated Artemis mission architecture, leading many experts to believe China is likely to land astronauts on the moon first.
- China’s space program is advancing steadily with missions like Chang’e-6 and the upcoming Chang’e-7 targeting the lunar south pole, aiming to extract resources such as water and helium-3, potentially shifting global power dynamics.
- The Artemis program’s reliance on repurposed technology, expensive Space Launch System (SLS) rockets, and the untested SpaceX Starship lander has caused delays and cost overruns, complicating America’s return to the moon.
- Political interference and conflicting priorities have led to a fractured
