China Blasting Ahead Of US In Race Back To The Moon

It's an extraordinary trajectory for a country that launched its first astronaut in 2003 . China has been operating space stations since 2011 and has been ticking off important, challenging firsts through its Chang'e lunar exploration program.

These robotic missions returned samples from the surface, including from the lunar far side . They have tested technology that could be crucial for landing humans. The next mission will touch down at the lunar south pole , a region that attracts intense interest because of the presence of water ice in shadowed craters there.

This water could be used for life support by a lunar base and turned into rocket propellant. Making rocket propellant on the moon would be cheaper than bringing it from Earth, making lunar exploration more affordable. It is for these reasons that Artemis III will land at the south pole. It's also the planned location for US and Chinese-led bases.

On September 28 2024, China showed off a spacesuit to be worn by its moon walkers, or“selenauts.” The suit is designed to protect the wearer against extreme temperature variations and unfiltered solar radiation. It is lightweight and flexible.

Is it a sign of China already overtaking the US in one aspect of the moon race? The company manufacturing the Artemis Moon suit , Axiom Space, is currently having to modify several aspects of the reference design given to them by NASA.

The lander that will carry US astronauts from lunar orbit to the surface is also delayed. In 2021, Elon Musk's SpaceX was given the contract to build this vehicle. It is based on SpaceX's Starship , which consists of a 50m-long spacecraft that launches on the most powerful rocket ever built.

On October 13 2024, Starship scored a successful fifth test flight. But several challenging steps are required before the Starship Human Landing System can carry astronauts down to the lunar surface.

Starship cannot fly directly to the Moon. It must refuel in Earth orbit first (using other Starships that act as propellant“tankers”). SpaceX needs to demonstrate refuelling and conduct a test landing on the Moon without crew before Artemis III can proceed.

In addition, during Artemis I, Orion's heat shield suffered considerable damage as the spacecraft made the high-temperature return through Earth's atmosphere. Nasa engineers have been working to find a remedy before the Artemis II mission.

Some critics argue that Artemis is too complex, referring to the intricate way in which astronauts and moon lander are brought together in lunar orbit, the large number of independently operating commercial partners and the number of Starship launches required. Depending who you ask, between four and 15 Starship flights are needed to complete the refueling for Artemis III.

Former NASA administrator Michael Griffin has advocated a simpler strategy , broadly along the lines of how China expects to accomplish its lunar landing. His vision sees NASA relying on traditional commercial partners such as Boeing, rather than relative“newbies” such as SpaceX.

However, simple is not necessarily better or cheaper. The Apollo program was simpler but at almost three times the cost of Artemis. SpaceX has been more successful, and economical than Boeing in sending crews to the International Space Station.

Sign up for one of our free newsletters

• The Daily Report Start your day right with Asia Times' top stories
• AT Weekly Report A weekly roundup of Asia Times' most-read stories

New technology is not developed through simple, tried approaches but in bold endeavors that push boundaries. The James Webb Space Telescope is highly complex, with its folded mirror and distant position in space, but it allows astronomers to peer into the depths of the universe as no other telescope can. Innovation is especially crucial bearing in mind future ambitions such as asteroid mining and a settlement on Mars .

Does it matter whether the first 21st-century selenauts are Chinese or American? This is largely a question about the relationship between governments and their citizens, and between nations.

Democratic governments depend on public support to safeguard funding for expensive, long-term ventures – and prestige is an important selling point. But prestige in a 21st-century moon race will be earned by doing it well, not sooner. Rushing back to the moon could be costly, both financially and the risk to human life.

Governments must set an example of responsible behavior. Peace, inclusivity and sustainability should be guiding principles. Going back to the moon must not be about dominion or superiority. It should be a chance to show that we can improve on how we have previously behaved on Earth.

Jacco van Loon is reader in astrophysics, Keele University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article .

Already have an account? Sign i Sign up here to comment on Asia Times stories OR

Thank you for registering!

An account was already registered with this email. Please check your inbox for an authentication link.