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Singapore—The recent launch of a Chinese mission to collect samples from the moon's far side has garnered widespread acclaim in China and the global scientific community for its potential scientific breakthroughs. However, in the United States, lawmakers and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) are closely monitoring the expedition with concern, viewing it as a significant milestone in a rival's campaign to establish a base on the moon’s strategically vital location.
This new phase of the U.S.-China technological competition is set against the backdrop of space, with both nations vying for dominance over lunar real estate, extraterrestrial resources, and national prestige. While this rivalry lacks the immediate threat of nuclear conflict seen during the U.S.-Soviet space race, it nevertheless presents profound implications for the future of space exploration.
The coveted lunar territory for both countries is the south pole, which holds abundant resources essential for sustaining a crewed base. These resources include ice that can be converted into water, oxygen for human consumption, and hydrogen for rocket fuel. Additionally, certain regions at the south pole receive continuous sunlight, offering a potential source of solar power.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson expressed apprehension about China's intentions, stating, “My concern is if China got there first and suddenly said, ‘OK, this is our territory. You stay out.’” He pointed to China’s assertive actions in the South China Sea as a potential indicator of its approach to lunar territorial disputes.
The ongoing 53-day mission aims to land near a crater at the moon's south pole and is the first mission to collect samples from the moon's far side. China's lunar exploration program, named after the Chinese moon goddess, Chang’e, began in 2004 and has steadily achieved significant milestones. These include the first soft landing on the far side with Chang’e 4 in 2019 and soil sample collection from the near side with Chang’e 5 in 2020.
The current Chang’e 6 mission combines elements of the previous two missions. Due to the moon's synchronous rotation, which keeps the same side facing Earth, maintaining communication with a spacecraft on the far side requires China to deploy a relay satellite that orbits the moon.
The success of this mission will be pivotal in determining if China can achieve its goal of sending astronauts to the moon by the end of this decade. Sample-return missions are crucial as they follow the same steps that a human mission would take. These missions are part of China's broader ambition to establish a permanent base on the moon’s south pole, known as the International Lunar Research Station, in collaboration with Russia by 2035.
NASA also aims to have a sustained presence on the moon before then, with plans for its Artemis program to establish a base camp on the south pole after American astronauts return to the lunar surface. However, a crewed mission to the lunar surface, originally planned for 2025, has been postponed to at least September 2026 due to spacecraft issues.
NASA envisions using the moon as a steppingstone for crewed missions to Mars, utilizing the moon’s surface for mission practice and potentially extracting lunar ice for fuel.
Aside from concerns about China blocking access to the south pole, Nelson suggested that China’s space program, despite civilian claims, may have military objectives. A moon base could potentially be used to disable enemy satellites.
Both NASA and Chinese officials declined to comment on these concerns. China's Foreign Ministry has previously stated its opposition to the weaponization of space, while accusing the U.S. of threatening its peaceful use.
Some U.S. lawmakers are closely monitoring the Chang’e 6 mission, citing it as an example of the challenges NASA faces in maintaining U.S. leadership in space. Representative Frank Lucas emphasized the importance of monitoring China’s space exploration efforts for maintaining competitiveness, national security, and continued space exploration capabilities.