The competition to return humans to the moon is no longer talked about as a distant ambition. According to NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, it has become a direct competition between the United States and China, with both countries working to land on the moon within a remarkably similar time frame.
Although official schedules indicate that the United States is targeting a return in 2028, while China has its sights set on sending astronauts before 2030, Isaacman believes the practical difference between these two goals is much smaller than it seems. His statements reflect a growing sense within the US space agency that the next few years will shape the future of human exploration beyond Earth. Rather than treating the next lunar landing as a symbolic achievement, NASA is positioning it as the beginning of a much longer effort to establish a permanent presence on the lunar surface before turning its attention toward missions to Mars.
NASA says the United States is entering into a new space race with China
Speaking during an interview with CBS’ Face the Nation, Isaacman said the US is now “in a space race” with China. He said the timeline separating the two programs is tight enough that each milestone matters.China has steadily expanded its space capabilities over the past two decades, and has already completed a series of successful robotic missions to the moon. Isaacman noted that there is no doubt that Chinese astronauts will eventually reach the moon.
The real question, in his view, is whether NASA can get there first while laying the foundations for something more permanent rather than carrying out a single experimental mission.He also distinguished between the current competition and the Cold War race against the Soviet Union. He said that this time the competing program has the technical ability to achieve its goals, which makes the competition significantly different from that which prevailed in the 1960s.
Artemis III is scheduled to pave the way for landing in 2028
NASA has already taken an important step with the Artemis 2 mission, which sent a crew of four astronauts around the moon earlier this year without attempting a landing. The goal of that mission was to test spacecraft systems and prepare their crews for more demanding operations near the lunar surface.Attention is now turning to Artemis III, scheduled for next year. Instead of focusing solely on sending astronauts to the moon, the mission is expected to verify many of the technologies needed for future landings.
Isaacman described it as an opportunity to test the basic elements together in Earth orbit before sending crews on more ambitious missions.The agency believes that these demonstrations will provide the necessary confidence for the Artemis IV mission, which is currently expected to return astronauts to the surface of the moon in 2028.
How NASA is putting together the future lunar site step by step
NASA’s plans extend beyond simply planting science. Isaacman outlined an approach centered around regular missions that gradually assemble the equipment needed to establish an effective lunar outpost.The agency expects launch activity to increase sharply through 2027, with missions being carried out at a pace that allows cargo and hardware to reach the Moon before the astronauts arrive. This work is intended to support the early stages of a permanent operating base rather than leaving each expedition to start from scratch.By the time astronauts land in 2028, Isaacman said they will find more than just an empty landscape waiting for them.
Early infrastructure is expected to be in place, including a Lunar Terrain Vehicle designed to help crews travel across the surface. The additional equipment will last until 2029 as NASA gradually expands operations.
Preparing for post-lunar missions
The moon remains the immediate destination, but NASA continues to describe it as part of a broader strategy and not the ultimate goal. The experience gained from living and working on the Moon’s surface is expected to be useful for future missions to Mars, where astronauts will face much longer journeys and greater operational challenges.Isaacman suggested that by the early years of the next decade, the Moon could begin to mimic the role played by the International Space Station. Instead of occasional visits, crews can spend extended periods there while testing technologies, carrying out scientific work and improving methods for deep space exploration.