China’s pace is deliberate but slower, and its timelines extend well beyond current U.S. targets. Unless Artemis suffers major, prolonged setbacks, the U.S. remains positioned to put astronauts on the lunar surface first.
Plus, NASA’s Artemis program already has international partners, a functioning deep space rocket (SLS), and the Orion spacecraft tested in lunar orbit. Contracts for lunar landers (SpaceX, Blue Origin) are also funded.
China’s pace is deliberate but slower, and its timelines extend well beyond current U.S. targets. Unless Artemis suffers major, prolonged setbacks, the U.S. remains positioned to put astronauts on the lunar surface first.
Plus, NASA’s Artemis program already has international partners, a functioning deep space rocket (SLS), and the Orion spacecraft tested in lunar orbit. Contracts for lunar landers (SpaceX, Blue Origin) are also funded.