NASA Targets 2028 Moon Return as Isaacman Warns China Race Is Down to Months
Updated
Updated · CBS New York · Jul 5
NASA Targets 2028 Moon Return as Isaacman Warns China Race Is Down to Months
3 articles · Updated · CBS New York · Jul 5
Summary
Jared Isaacman said the U.S.-China moon race is tighter than official targets suggest, with NASA aiming for late 2028 and China for 2029 — "months, not years" apart.
NASA plans Artemis III next year to test lunar landing systems in Earth orbit, a mission Isaacman said is crucial to clearing the way for astronauts to land on the moon in 2028.
Nearly monthly lunar missions in 2027 would begin building a U.S. foothold, with a lunar terrain vehicle and early infrastructure meant to be in place when astronauts arrive in 2028.
Early 2030s could bring an ISS-like lunar presence, Isaacman said, framing a sustained moon base as both the real prize in the race with China and a proving ground for Mars.
With its primary landing system years behind schedule, can NASA realistically beat China to the Moon by 2028?
Is the new space race less about landing first and more about claiming the Moon’s vital water and mineral resources?
Can mining lunar ice and metals truly make a moon base self-sufficient, or is it an unproven dream?
The New Space Race: U.S. and China’s Rivalry for the Moon, Technology, and Global Influence
Overview
The global ambition to return to the Moon has sparked a renewed space race, marked by both collaboration and competition. Major powers like the United States and China are driving this race with ambitious timelines and strategic shifts, aiming to establish a lasting presence on the lunar surface. This rivalry, reminiscent of the original space race that began with Sputnik 1 in 1957, now shapes modern efforts. NASA’s Artemis program, guided by a 2025 executive order, seeks to return Americans to the Moon by 2028 and build a permanent outpost by 2030, emphasizing U.S. leadership and national vision in space exploration.