Sputnik launched a space race between the United States and Russia that resulted in the Mercury and Apollo programs and put man on the moon. There is still a space race, but with the unmanned Artemis One Moon Rocket whirling around the moon and now earthbound again the U.S. is in competition with China.
This past weekend three Chinese astronauts returned from a six-month mission constructing key elements of the Tiangong Space Station.
Long-term life in space is the aim for all earthbound countries with capabilities and aspirations today. Artemis is intended to ultimately make it possible for NASA to build-out a permanent working station on the moon. The headlines have gone to Space X, the Elon Musk company that has consistently demonstrated capabilities of reusable rockets and precision landings, and NASA finds the private company a useful partner in achieving their own aims of exploration.
China intends to get boots on the ground on the moon at a functioning station by 2030. Artemis plans to get a manned operation on the moon by 2025.
It’s a race in space that NASA finds familiar, and through the use of coordinated strategic contract players is making great strides to keep the U.S. at the top of the line.
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