NASA Chief Predicts China’s 2027 Crewed Moon Flyby as U.S. Reworks Artemis
Updated
Updated · SpaceNews · May 20
NASA Chief Predicts China’s 2027 Crewed Moon Flyby as U.S. Reworks Artemis
3 articles · Updated · SpaceNews · May 20
2027 is when NASA chief Jared Isaacman says China will likely send taikonauts around the moon, making it the first non-U.S. crewed lunar-environment mission.
Isaacman framed that forecast as evidence the U.S.-China lunar race is tightening, warning the gap between winning and losing could be measured in months rather than years.
Artemis has already been reshaped around that pressure: Artemis 3 was shifted from a 2028 landing attempt to a 2027 low-Earth-orbit test, with the landing moved to Artemis 4 in 2028.
NASA also pared back other Artemis elements, effectively dropping the lunar Gateway in favor of a lunar base and a faster cadence of robotic lander missions.
Congress has responded to the China argument by backing higher exploration funding in a fiscal 2027 spending bill than the administration requested.
Can NASA's accelerated plan ensure astronaut safety while racing to land on the Moon by 2028?
Is NASA sacrificing long-term deep space capability for a short-term lunar victory by canceling the Gateway?
As rival moon bases are planned, what rules will prevent a resource conflict in the vacuum of space?
Artemis vs. ILRS: How the U.S. and China Are Reshaping Lunar Exploration and Resource Competition
Overview
The report highlights how NASA's Artemis program underwent major changes after technical issues were found during Artemis II's wet dress rehearsal, including a helium flow problem that forced the rocket back to the Vehicle Assembly Building. In response, NASA restructured the program, shifting Artemis III from a planned lunar landing to a systems test in lunar Earth orbit and halting development of a more powerful rocket stage. Despite these setbacks, Artemis II achieved a successful crewed lunar flyby, setting the stage for future missions. These developments reflect the dynamic and competitive nature of current lunar exploration efforts.