The Space Race: United States vs. China

Since the Trump administration announced the Artemis program for a lunar landing in 2017, the space race between the United States and China has captured global attention. However, technical and logistical challenges continue to hinder the achievement of the desired goals. In this article, we will explore the details of this complex race and the main challenges it faces.

The Artemis Program: Goals and Challenges

The Trump administration launched the Artemis program with the aim of landing astronauts on the moon by 2024, with plans to build the Artemis Base in the following decade. However, these missions require the development of larger and more complex rockets and spacecraft than previous missions, such as Apollo.

The launch of the program’s first crewed mission, Artemis II, has been delayed until next year. It will be the first mission to send humans to the lunar vicinity since 1972. Nevertheless, doubts are growing about the feasibility of meeting this timeline due to technical complexities and delays.

China’s Progress in the Space Race

In contrast, China appears confident in its ability to reach the moon by 2030. Last August, China successfully tested the first stage of its lunar rocket, boosting its confidence in achieving its timeline goals.

China is taking a more stable approach to its space program, viewing itself not in a race with the United States, but rather pursuing its goals in a deliberate and systematic manner.

Technical Challenges: The Starship Issue

SpaceX’s Starship is one of the biggest challenges facing the Artemis program. Starship was chosen as the American lunar landing vehicle, but it has yet to achieve any significant successes in flight tests, raising concerns about its ability to meet the desired objectives.

Starship needs to perform in-orbit refueling operations and land vertically on the lunar surface, capabilities that have yet to be proven. With delayed tests, doubts are increasing about NASA’s timeline for achieving its goals.

Exploring Alternatives and Implementing a Backup Plan

As challenges mount, calls for a backup plan are growing. Among the suggestions is canceling the costly development of the SLS rocket’s upper stage and replacing it with less expensive rockets like the Centaur V.

It is also proposed to develop a simpler lunar landing vehicle similar to the Apollo lander, which could save time and resources and increase the chances of success in the lunar race.

Conclusion

Amid the technical and political challenges facing the Artemis program, the issue of returning to the moon remains complex and fraught with risks. While the United States strives to reaffirm its position in the world of space exploration, China steadily progresses toward achieving its goals. The question remains: Will the United States succeed in returning to the moon before China, or will the journey witness radical changes in the near future?