Posted on 09/04/2025 1:20:23 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
Committee Chairman Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) opened the Sept. 3 hearing, titled "There's a Bad Moon on the Rise," by warning that the United States risks losing the moon to China if NASA's Artemis program falters. The hearing centered on how America can stay ahead in the new space race, with lawmakers pressing the importance of Artemis and reaffirming the need for the Gateway space station and to maintain continuous operations in low Earth orbit (LEO).
Witnesses underscored that delays, budget uncertainty, or wavering commitments could undermine both U.S. industry and international alliances, warning that uncertainty could drive partners and suppliers toward China's accelerating lunar mission technologies.
Experts invited to testify included former NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine; Allen Cutler, president and CEO of the Coalition for Deep Space Exploration; Mike Gold, president of civil and international space at Redwire; and former Deputy Commander of the U.S. Space Command Lt. Gen. John Shaw.
These witnesses pointed to China's recent progress, including a crew vehicle abort-system test in June, a Long March 10 rocket static fire in August, and a moon lander demonstration, as evidence of a systematic push toward the lunar surface.
(Excerpt) Read more at space.com ...
Former NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine talks about the difficulties in beating China to the moon at a Senate hearing on September 3, 2025.US 'highly unlikely' to beat China
in landing astronauts on moon, says former NASA chief | 17:45
VideoFromSpace | 2.03M subscribers | 5,387 views | September 3, 2025
Um....I think the race ended in 1969.
We already went to the moon.
Yup. Been there, done that.
Memory hole.
It’s a new race to see who can be the first establish massage parlor on the moon.
I agree with Cruz. Let’s light this candle!
Didn’t we already win the moon race like 55 years ago?
China's man-rated big 'un is the Long March 10. It can put 70,000 kg (150,000 lb) into Low Earth orbit, or 25,000 (55115 lb) into Trans-Lunar Injection (TLI).
The Long March 9 plans come and go. In current form its TLI capacity is 54,000 kg (119,000 lb).
By contrast, the unsuccessful Soviet N1 booster by spec was circa 33,000 kg (73,000 lb), but of course, it never had a successful flight test, or actually any during the lifetime of head of the bureau Sergei Korolev.
Also by contrast, the US' Saturn V payload to TLI mass was 43,500 kg (95,900 lb).
We need to have a reliable heavy lift system that can help setup a moon base as staging for Mars.
I don’t think China is a threat to SpaceX plans.
NASA yes...SpaceX No.
The hearing wasn't about anything but the stupid Lunar Gateway boondoggle, i.e., space station redux.
/bingo
Been there, done that, got the moon rocks.
China rockets go Kablooey! Big bang bang bing bong. Thanks for covid, a$$ho&@! Me no likey the chinamen
So what? Let the Chi-coms build some useless facility on that barren rock. Nothing has been found there of use.
Patch the rift with Musk and we will be there by next Thursday, along with the first Tesla moon rover.
😂
It is Chinese moon you no land here.
Rift or no rift, SpaceX is going to the Moon with or without NASA, and I'd be surprised if it doesn't arrive there by or before 2027.
I'll be stunned if the new US (no more of this Int'l BS) space station in Earth orbit isn't designed, built, funded, and launched by SpaceX in time to replace the ISS when it gets dumped into the Pacific.
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