Shoot for the moon: Inside the rocky race to the lunar south pole
The US and China are in a fierce competition to establish a permanent base on the lunar south pole, with the US aiming for a crewed landing by 2028 and China planning to build the International Lunar Research Station by 2035. The two nations are racing to achieve space superiority, with private companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin also playing a role in the mission.
The US and China are competing to establish a permanent base on the lunar south pole. The US plans to launch Artemis II on April 1, a flyby mission to research radiation effects and map the Moon's geologic features. China is building the International Lunar Research Station, with a planned completion date of 2035. The US aims for a crewed lunar landing by 2028, with SpaceX contracted to build and deliver the lander. China's reusable deep-space carrier, Mengzhou, will send humans to the Moon with a Long March 10 rocket. The competition is heating up, with private companies proposing innovative solutions to support the mission.
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