NASA Warns China's Potential Takeover Of The Moon In The Coming Years

Bill Nelson, NASA administrator, is concerned about China's extraordinary advances in space technology. (photo: x @SenBillNelson)

JAKARTA - NASA has warned that China could be prepared to take over the Moon in the coming years. This was done, by using its civilian space program as a cover for military operations.

Bill Nelson, NASA's administrator, is concerned that the country's extraordinary advances in bamboo curtain countries in the last decade will not only be in the interests of science, but to uphold dominance over the Moon.

China has launched a plane to the Moon and brought samples back to Earth, has its own space station orbiting the planet, and is aiming for 2030 to send humans to the natural satellite.

While NASA plans to land humans at the Moon's South Pole by 2026. Nelson raises concerns that China has the ability to achieve this goal first.

"China has made tremendous progress, especially in the last 10 years, but they are very, very closed," Nelson told members of the House Payment Committee at the 2024 budget hearing.

"We believe that most of their civilian space program is a military program," Nelson continued. "And I think, basically, we're racing."

Nelson made the statement to the committee this week in support of the reasons why NASA needed a budget of 25.4 billion US dollars (Rp411.9 trillion) for 2025.

China plans to set up a landing base on the Moon's surface in the next five years, making it increasingly important for the US to step up its efforts and investments to send astronauts into space.

"They continue to shift the last date they say will land, which is 2030," Nelson said. "Their research is good, their engineering is good, and the evidence is there, they now have a space station there."

Nelson also noted that many concerns stem from the close relationship between China's space program and the People's Liberation Army - the Communist Party's military branch.

"My concern is that if China got to it first and suddenly said: 'Well, this is our territory, you have to move away'," Nelson said.

China was forced to build its own space station after being banned from international space stations in 2011 over US concerns that Beijing's space program is linked to the People's Liberation Army - the Communist Party branch.

Nelson compared the race with China with the Soviet Union in 1958 when the two countries competed for the first humans to land on the Moon - but the US is still the only country that has successfully landed humans on the surface of the Moon.

"China has made aggressive investments both in the exploration of distant space and low-Earth orbit," Nelson said. "Funding is very important to ensure the United States remains an international leader in the space sector."

Nelson argued that if anyone doubted his warning, they should have seen Beijing's involvement in the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea claimed by Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, and China.

The Spratly Islands are highly desirable because of their rich natural resources and abundant fishing areas, but China continues to seek to assert its dominance over other countries, claiming to own most of the region.

Nelson stated that China is likely to try to do a similar trick in space and even if they can try to control the Moon, the US will use its landing for practical purposes.

According to Nelson, the US will use its landings to predict flooding and drought, see deforestation or trees susceptible to fires, and notify officials to prevent forest fires.

"So I think it is our responsibility to get there first and take advantage of our research efforts for peaceful purposes," he added.