NASA Administrator Bill Nelson warned that the United States is in a space race with China. Nelson is also worried that if the US loses then China could just control the Moon.
In an interview with Politico, Nelson said if China won the space race then they could establish territory on the Moon and dominate areas rich in minerals and other resources, or even block other countries from flying to the Moon.
Nelson emphasized that the competition between the US and China is getting more intense and the next two years will determine which country can succeed first.
"It's a fact: we are in a space race," Nelson told Politico, as quoted by The Guardian, Tuesday (3/1/2023).
"And it's true that we had better be careful that they don't get to a place on the Moon under the guise of scientific research. And it's not impossible for them to say, 'Watch out, we're here, this is our territory,'" he continued.
Nelson then likened China's ambition to control the Moon to its aggression in the South China Sea where it has established a military base. "If you doubt that, look what they did with the Spratly Islands," said Nelson.
Last year, China's space program launched several missions to orbit the Moon and even take samples and return them to Earth. China is already planning the third phase of the program, which is to build a research center near the south pole of the Moon by 2025.
In December, the Chinese government unveiled its vision for a manned mission to the Moon, space transportation and infrastructure. China has also announced plans to land a taikonaut on the lunar surface by the end of this decade.
Meanwhile NASA has just completed its Artemis 1 mission which sent an Orion capsule without a start around the Moon. This mission will be followed by Artemis 2 in 2024 which will carry astronauts to lunar orbit, and Artemis 3 in 2025 to land astronauts on the Moon.
NASA uses its own Space Launch System rocket for the Artemis 1 mission. As for Artemis 3, NASA is working with SpaceX, the space company led by Elon Musk.
"I ask that question every day: 'How is SpaceX doing?' And all our managers tell me that they have fulfilled all their achievements."