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The Diplomat
02-07-2025
- Science
- The Diplomat
China's Steady Ascent to the Moon: How Beijing Is Rewriting Lunar Geopolitics
When the Chang'e 6 return capsule touched down in the dusty plains of Inner Mongolia in June 2024, it carried something no nation had ever retrieved: the first samples from the far side of the Moon. For China's space agency, this wasn't just a scientific achievement; it was a message. It marked a pivotal shift, signaling that China's lunar ambitions had evolved from symbolic flag planting to a systematic push for permanent space infrastructure. Chang'e 6 was not a one off headline grabber, but rather part of a rapidly advancing sequence. Chang'e 7, scheduled for 2026, will scout the Moon's South Pole, an area of strategic interest due to potential water deposits. Chang'e 8, launching in 2028, aims to test technologies for using local lunar resources. And by 2035, Beijing plans to begin constructing a permanent International Lunar Research Station (ILRS), possibly powered through the freezing two-week lunar nights by a small nuclear reactor. Meanwhile, officials say China remains 'on track' to land its first astronauts on the Moon by 2030. This spring's successful trials of the country's new two-part crewed spacecraft (Mengzhou and its lander, Lanyue) reinforced that timeline. And with the launch of Tianwen 2 in May, a mission to return samples from both an asteroid and a comet, China has made its intentions unmistakably clear. In space, China is not merely catching up anymore, but rather it is starting to lead. Why the Moon, and Why Now? China's accelerated push toward the Moon is not simply a scientific endeavor. It is guided by a strategic calculus shaped by the interlocking imperatives of accessing resources, having technological leverage, and establishing a long term political control. First, the Lunar South Pole contains permanently shadowed craters believed to hold substantial reserves of water ice. For any country seeking a lasting presence on the Moon, that ice is of tremendous importance, as it can be converted into fuel, life support, and even infrastructure. Securing access to these polar deposits offer not only practical advantage but also immense geopolitical symbolism. In space, as on Earth, control of critical resources translates into influence. China's lunar missions are not developing in isolation. Key technologies – such as the heavy lift Long March-10 rocket, high thrust propulsion systems, and robust cislunar communication networks – have direct military relevance. While Chinese officials maintain that the lunar program is peaceful, defense analysts see clear convergence with the People's Liberation Army's growing interest in space as a strategic domain. These dual use dividends are too significant to ignore. Building a Coalition on Beijing's Terms There is a clear geopolitical dynamic at play as China's space program advances. While the United States advertises its 55-member Artemis Accords as proof of international momentum, Beijing is quietly building a rival coalition. Thirteen countries have signed onto China's ILRS agreement so far, including Russia, Pakistan, Belarus, and South Africa. To expand its influence, China has rolled out an ambitious '5-5-5' campaign, under which it aims to add a total of 50 nations, 500 institutions, and 5,000 researchers to engage in lunar science by the early 2030s. This division is stark and deliberate. With the exception of Thailand, not a single Artemis country has joined the ILRS, and none of China's partners has signed the Artemis Accords. Beijing is making its offer hard to refuse, as it offers low interest loans for ground stations, tech transfer guarantees, and slots for smaller payloads on Chinese missions. The result is a familiar dynamic, a quiet struggle for influence, echoing the divides seen in the race for 5G or the Belt and Road Initiative. How the United States Is Reacting Inside NASA, China's growing momentum is seen less as an external threat and more as a rallying cry. Administrators from both Republican and Democratic administrations have repeatedly cast the Artemis program as essential to winning the new space race with China, as recently stated by Administrator Bill Nelson. It is a message that resonates on Capitol Hill, where bipartisan support has helped secure funding for core elements like the Space Launch System (SLS) and Orion, even as deadlines slip. Few lawmakers want to be seen as soft on China, especially when space dominance is framed as a matter of national prestige and security. External rivals can unify an otherwise polarized Congress, and Artemis has proven no exception. The Biden administration quietly adopted all of the program's core goals from its predecessor, shifting the first crewed lunar landing from 2024 to 2027 or later, but keeping China at the center of its justification. Still, the U.S. political system remains a structural weakness in this long term competition. Artemis has already suffered multiple delays, and a December 2023 audit put the odds of a 2028 landing at just 70 percent. Additionally, the White House fiscal year 2026 budget proposal for NASA included a 25 percent reduction in NASA's funding and plans to phase out the SLS and Orion spacecraft after Artemis III. This raises significant concerns about the viability of the current lunar return strategy. China, by contrast, can redirect funding or extend timelines without public debate or political backlash, potentially giving it an advantage in the lunar exploration race. Unlike democratic systems where space funding often fluctuates with political shifts, Beijing can sustain multidecade programs with centralized coordination. At a deeper level, the two programs reflect diverging philosophies. The United States leans on the private sector (outsourcing key components to firms like SpaceX and Blue Origin) in hopes of gaining speed and reducing costs. Whether that gamble pays off remains one of the defining questions in this unfolding lunar rivalry. Implications for the Indo-Pacific The prospect of rival, partially overlapping communication and navigation networks in cislunar space is causing concern among Asian defense planners. A radio quiet zone on the Moon's far side (prized by astronomers for its shielded environment) could easily conceal surveillance infrastructure. Meanwhile, proposals for lunar 'gas stations' to refuel spacecraft raise uncomfortable legal questions about territorial control in a domain still governed by the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, drafted long before GPS or commercial satellites ever existed. Japan and India, both signatories to the Artemis Accords, have expressed public support for U.S. leadership. But behind the scenes, Japan's SLIM precision lander and India's upcoming Chandrayaam 4 sample return mission may position them to share data or cooperate with both blocs, keeping diplomatic options open. For smaller Southeast Asian countries, the calculus feels familiar, much like debates over maritime codes of conduct. The goal is to avoid choosing sides outright while maximizing technology transfer and strategic flexibility both from Washington and Beijing. To many ASEAN capitals, lunar engineering might still seem like science fiction. But the stakes are very real. Whichever bloc secures early access to polar ice on the Moon could gain a commanding position in the emerging cislunar economy, powering Earth Moon cargo transport and satellite relays. The intellectual property, industrial standards, and logistics infrastructure built in space won't stay in space. They will shape value chains back on Earth, from robotics to additive manufacturing. Australia's nascent Moon to Mars supply chain initiatives, South Korea's KPLO orbiter study and Singapore's interest in cislunar cybersecurity all suggest the region understands what is at stake. Participation choices will increasingly interconnect with terrestrial trade and security partnerships. A Contest of Rule Making, Not Just Rockets Framing today's lunar competition as a 'new Cold War' misses the point. China and the United States are not simply racing to plant flags; they are maneuvering to shape the rules of the game. Technological standards, legal norms, and commercial protocols established now will define who sets the pace in space for decades to come. Beijing's centrally planned path toward its ILRS promises long-term stability, but offers little in the way of transparency. Washington's Artemis program, by contrast, is built around a decentralized, commercial led coalition, bringing openness and broad participation, but also slower timelines and political volatility. For policymakers across the Indo-Pacific, the challenge is to engage without becoming dependent. That means pushing for interoperable standards, avoiding exclusivity in launch or communications deals, and investing in domestic lunar science capabilities to remain credible at the negotiating table. The Moon is no longer just a silent presence in the night sky. It is quickly becoming the region's newest strategic frontier.
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
China Nails Pad Abort Test for Next-Gen Taikonaut Capsule
The China Manned Space Engineering Office (CMSEO) announced a successful test of its pad-abort system for the in-development Mengzhou spacecraft this week. This represents an important step in China's plans to send taikonauts to the Moon's surface sometime in the next few years, though there are still many steps between this and an eventual lunar mission. Like the USA and several other countries, China has expressed a growing interest in a manned mission to the Moon in the coming years, in what would be the first human feet to touch down on the celestial body in over five decades. This 21st-century space race could be important for setting the tone of the industrialization of space and future missions to Mars and beyond. That's a long way off for now, with China still developing the Long March 10 rocket and the Lanyue lunar lander, both of which would be integral parts of any future lunar missions. In the near term, though, the CMSEO is working on the safety features of its Mengzhou spacecraft, which would carry future taikonauts into low Earth orbit and beyond. On June 17, the Mengzhou successfully fired its solid rocket escape engines from the launch pad, firing the craft up and away from the launch facility, before triggering three descent parachutes. The craft then safely touched down a few minutes later using self-deployed air cushions. The CMSEO claimed the test was a "complete success," as per in the video above, you can see the craft tip over after landing, which probably wasn't intended. Still, this test shows the functionality of the safety system that would kick in should any future launches of manned missions encounter dangerous conditions on the launchpad, where the lives of the taikonauts are in danger. If such an event occurred, the safety system would kick in and tear the manned capsule from the rocket assembly, launching it far from the rocket and allowing the crew to return safely to Earth, regardless of what happens to the rest of the spacecraft. This puts CMSEO one step closer to its lunar missions goals, even if those are still a long way off. The next step will likely be a test in-flight, or at least at altitude, confirming that the abort system can still function at higher atmospheric pressures and speeds. NASA is also pushing for manned Moon missions in the next decade, but doubts have been raised over the plans since the Trump administration is recommending budgets that would push for the cancellation of the Space Launch System and the Orion spacecraft, which was designed to carry next-generation astronauts to the Moon. That puts into doubt the Artemis 3 mission, which is currently slated for 2027. Perhaps new spacecraft fees could help bolster budgets enough to compensate.
South China Morning Post
24-04-2025
- Science
- South China Morning Post
Shenzhou-20 launch signals nothing will stop the rise of China
Launches happen frequently enough to almost seem routine, but the vapour trail arcing skyward above northwestern China yesterday was an important signal of the nation's resolve to be a space exploration leader despite geopolitical headwinds. Advertisement The blast-off was all the more exciting knowing Hong Kong's first astronaut could be joining a mission as early as next year. The three Shenzhou-20 astronauts will spend six months on the Tiangong space station, carrying out experiments on artificial brain models and superconducting materials. They will replace the current residents, including China's third female astronaut, who are due to return to Earth on Tuesday. Announcing the flight plans earlier this week, China's space agency said it remained on track to put astronauts on the moon by 2030. Lin Xiqiang, deputy director of the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA), said development was 'progressing smoothly', including on tests of the Long March-10 rocket, Mengzhou spacecraft and Lanyue lunar lander. Advertisement However, China has some catching up to do with the US space agency Nasa. Both aim to put the first humans on the moon this century. The United States has done it before, most recently on a 1972 Apollo mission. Now, Nasa has conducted full uncrewed flight tests of an updated launch system and spacecraft, while China has yet to do a full flight test.
See - Sada Elbalad
23-04-2025
- Politics
- See - Sada Elbalad
China Develops Tech for Lunar Mission
Israa Farhan China is accelerating preparations for its first crewed lunar landing, with key mission components now in advanced stages of development and testing, according to Lin Xiqiang, Deputy Director of the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA). At a press conference on Wednesday, Lin confirmed that major elements of the mission—including the Long March-10 rocket, Mengzhou crewed spacecraft, Lanyue lunar lander, Wangyu lunar spacesuit, and Tansuo lunar rover—are all undergoing prototype research and testing as scheduled. The mission, part of China's long-term lunar exploration initiative, aims to place astronauts on the Moon by 2030. Once achieved, the crew is expected to conduct scientific research and collect samples for further analysis back on Earth. This mission marks a pivotal phase in China's lunar program, known as Chang'e, which began in 2007 with the launch of Chang'e-1. That first satellite mission helped map the Moon's surface and provided critical data, including the first Chinese-generated lunar heat map. The upcoming crewed mission underscores China's growing ambitions in space exploration, positioning it as a major player in the new era of lunar science and interplanetary missions. read more Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685 NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided News Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks News Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank News Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region News One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid News Egypt confirms denial of airspace access to US B-52 bombers News Ayat Khaddoura's Final Video Captures Bombardment of Beit Lahia Lifestyle Pistachio and Raspberry Cheesecake Domes Recipe News Australia Fines Telegram $600,000 Over Terrorism, Child Abuse Content Arts & Culture Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban's $4.7M LA Home Burglarized Videos & Features Bouchra Dahlab Crowned Miss Arab World 2025 .. Reem Ganzoury Wins Miss Arab Africa Title (VIDEO) Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Sports Neymar Announced for Brazil's Preliminary List for 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers News Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly Inaugurates Two Indian Companies Arts & Culture New Archaeological Discovery from 26th Dynasty Uncovered in Karnak Temple
South China Morning Post
23-04-2025
- Science
- South China Morning Post
China's moon shot: 2030 crewed lunar mission tests on pace, space agency says
China's plans to put astronauts on the moon by 2030 remain on track with large-scale tests proceeding 'as scheduled', following the completion of early trials for lunar landing spacecraft duo Mengzhou and Lanyue, according to Chinese space authorities. Advertisement The current timeline to land the first humans on the moon this century still placed China's space programme behind the United States. 'The overall development of various manned lunar missions … is progressing smoothly. The Long March 10 and Mengzhou spacecraft are carrying out prototype development and testing as planned,' Lin Xiqiang, deputy director of the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA), said on Wednesday. Component tests that have been completed for the crewed lunar mission include thermal evaluations of the Lanyue lunar lander, which will transport crew members from the spacecraft to the moon's surface. The agency was set to conduct the first comprehensive assessments of mission components, Lin said during an event to announce the Shenzhou 20 mission to China's Tiangong space station, which was expected to launch on Thursday. Advertisement
