NASA administrator: "We are very much in a space race right now" against China
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said the U.S. is "very much in a space race right now" against China, as the two countries vie to land astronauts on the moon and secure a near-permanent presence.
"The Chinese are moving at incredible speeds, and they are certainly capable of doing what the Soviets were not during the first space race," Isaacman said on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan ."
While the U.S. is aiming to get astronauts back to the moon for landing in 2028, China is looking to send its own "taikonauts" to the moon before 2030. But Isaacman stressed that the timelines are closer than they appear.
"They are thinking in 2029, we're saying end of 2028 is when we're targeting the landing," he said. "That is months, not years.
Isaacman said the Chinese "will land their taikonauts on the moon — there's no question."
"The question is, will the United States return before them, and will we do so in a different way this time?" he said. "Will we build the base, establish that enduring presence? I think the answer is yes."